Abstract

We assessed the relationships between changes in lung compliance, lung volumes and dynamic hyperinflation in patients with emphysema who underwent bronchoscopic treatment with nitinol coils (coil treatment) (n=11) or received usual care (UC) (n=11). Compared with UC, coil treatment resulted in decreased dynamic lung compliance (C_Ldyn) (p=0.03) and increased endurance time (p=0.010). The change in C_Ldyn was associated with significant improvement in FEV₁ and FVC, with reduction in residual volume and intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure, and with increased inspiratory capacity at rest/and at exercise. The increase in end-expiratory lung volume (EELV) during exercise (EELV_dyn-ch=EELV_isotime EELV_rest) demonstrated significant attenuation after coil treatment (p=0.02).