Possible Emphysema Treatment to be Tested at U-of-L

Researchers at the University of Louisville are looking for patients for a new clinical trial that will test a device for use in emphysema patients. Emphysema is a progressive lung disease caused by overexposure to toxins, such as tobacco smoke.Dr. Jinesh Mehta says the device is inserted without surgery into a patient’s airways and is designed to redirect oxygen to less-diseased parts of the lungs. He says it’s a possible new treatment for a disease without many options.“Most people with severe emphysema are limited in how much they can do as far a treatment options," says Mehta. "We have a few inhalers we can give them and we have rehab, but beyond that, there isn’t a whole lot more to offer.”Mehta says doctors would like to have ten patients for the trial, but are finding it difficult to locate people who fit the requirements. He says in order to participate, severe emphysema patients must have stopped smoking for at least four months.