Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Smith H, Hacking C, Bell D, et al. Endobronchial valve. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 28 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-62811
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Craig Hacking had the following disclosures:
- Philips Australia, Paid speaker at Philips Spectral CT events (ongoing)
These were assessed during peer review and were determined to
not be relevant to the changes that were made.
View Craig Hacking's current disclosures
Endobronchial valves are one-way valves inserted via bronchoscopy that restrict airflow to a particular lung segment. They permit the drainage of airway secretions during the expiratory phase but restrict incoming airflow during inspiration 1.
Endobronchial valves were originally designed as an alternative to surgery for lung volume reduction in cases of severe emphysema. They have also been used to treat bronchopleural and bronchoalveolar fistulas with persistent air-leaks 1, 2.
Commonly used devices are the Spiration Intrabronchial Valve System® and the Zephyr ® Endobronchial Valve, both are MRI conditional at field strengths less than 3 T 2, 4.
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
Small radiopaque markers and struts overlying an airway will be visible. Atelectasis distal to the valve should usually also be visible 3.
Complications
Potential complications include 3:
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1. Mahajan AK, Doeing DC, Hogarth DK. Isolation of persistent air leaks and placement of intrabronchial valves. (2013) The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery. 145 (3): 626-30. doi:10.1016/j.jtcvs.2012.12.003 - Pubmed
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2. Sigakis CJG, Mathai SK, Suby-Long TD, Restauri NL, Ocazionez D, Bang TJ, Restrepo CS, Sachs PB, Vargas D. Radiographic Review of Current Therapeutic and Monitoring Devices in the Chest. (2018) Radiographics : a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. 38 (4): 1027-1045. doi:10.1148/rg.2018170096 - Pubmed
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3. Liu H, Xu M, Xie Y, Gao J, Ni S. Efficacy and safety of endobronchial valves for advanced emphysema: a meta analysis. (2015) Journal of thoracic disease. 7 (3): 320-8. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2014.11.04 - Pubmed
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4. Hartman JE, Vanfleteren LEGW, van Rikxoort EM, Klooster K, Slebos DJ. Endobronchial valves for severe emphysema. (2019) European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society. doi:10.1183/16000617.0121-2018 - Pubmed
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