Interventional pulmonologist at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, Nadeem Ali, talks about treating COPD.
Interview conducted by Ivanhoe Broadcast News in December 2023.
Describe COPD.
Ali: COPD is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is a progressively worsening disease of the lungs, where patients who are ex-smokers, most times or current smokers, will have progressively worsening trouble breathing, dyspnea, cough, and wheezing. It can lead to significant mortality and morbidity and mortality, can lead to pneumonia, respiratory arrest, and o
There are a lot of complications and it can kill you, right?
Ali: Correct. COPD is something that has a high mortality rate.
Is it equal among men and women?
Ali: Correct. COPD is a disease that does not discriminate, men and women can both have COPD. Historically speaking, women probably may still be underdiagnosed with COPD.
Does emphysema fall under the umbrella?
Ali: Correct. Emphysema is a form of COPD, where the airways are destroyed, and they tend to trap the lungs. Trap emphysema is a form of COPD that causes the destruction of the lungs and forces the lungs to trap air. It’s as if you’re taking a deep breath, holding, and now living your life with that deep breath. These patients get shorter breaths doing mundane activities, going to the bathroom, going down the stairs, cooking, cleaning, and the simplest of all activities.
Is the main cause smoking?
Ali: Correct. In America, the main cause of COPD is cigarette smoking.
What’s the average age of onset?
Ali: The majority of our patients with COPD are in their 60s and 70s. Likely mild forms of COPD are evident in their 50s, but patients either do not see a doctor or are just not symptomatic yet.
What’s the traditional treatment?
Ali: Traditional treatment for COPD involves inhaler therapy. First-line therapy are inhalers and their lungs worsen over time. They may need oxygen as well.
Describe this treatment and why it’s a good alternative.
Ali: Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction is a newer treatment that came out about three years ago that is FDA-approved. It’s a procedure for those patients with significant emphysema, moderate to severe, who trap too much air in their lungs. The purpose of this procedure is to release that trapped air to allow them to breathe with a diaphragm and give them that quality of life.
You said there’s not a big recovery time, right?
Ali: Correct. Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction is a minimally invasive procedure done in the hospital where patients are under general anesthesia. For about an hour, their valves are placed, and the patient is woken up and monitored in a hospital setting given the fact that they are high-risk. These patients are not discriminated against because of their age, previous medical history, or even oxygen needs.
You said they have to have stopped smoking for three months or do you prefer that?
Ali: Correct. We recommend all our patients with COPD stop smoking. But to qualify for this procedure of lung volume reduction, you do have to stop smoking for at least three months.
Can you describe the camera thing?
Ali: The lung volume reduction surgery procedure is done via a small camera about the size, if not smaller than what you would have an endoscopy. We go in through the airway and place anywhere three to five small valves.
You said once they get that, I think that would be when you want them to exercise.
Ali: Correct. Qualifications for the procedure for lung volume reduction, pretty much any age. We’ve done 60-year-olds, 70-year-olds, and even 80-year-olds. Mainly we want you to have moderate to severe COPD. You may be on oxygen, you may have cardiac stenting, but the valves can still be placed. After the volume reduction procedure is performed, we want you to exercise because the whole purpose of this procedure is to give you a quality of life, so you don’t have that breathlessness. We want to push you, we want you to walk around even while you’re in the hospital, and then as you get home.
END OF INTERVIEW
This information is intended for additional research purposes only. It is not to be used as a prescription or advice from Ivanhoe Broadcast News, Inc. or any medical professional interviewed. Ivanhoe Broadcast News, Inc. assumes no responsibility for the depth or accuracy of physician statements. Procedures or medicines apply to different people and medical factors; always consult your physician on medical matters.
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Nadeem Ali
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