A 79-year-old retiree with chronic emphysema, who had trouble breathing at rest, underwent a new life-altering procedure at South Miami Hospital which involves implanting an "endobronchial valve" in the diseased area of his lungs. It was the first time this minimally invasive procedure, made possible by a recent approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), was performed in Miami-Dade County. An endobronchial valve is a device that permits one-way air movement. During inhalation, the valve is closed to prevent air flow into the diseased area of the lung. The valve opens during exhalation to allow air to escape from the diseased area.

"He (the patient) was maximized on medical therapy (medications and rehabilitation) and was suffering from depression and anxiety because he had trouble breathing at rest," explains Michael Hernandez, MD, a pulmonologist affiliated with the Lung Health Program at South Miami Hospital. "He often stated that 'I cannot go on living like this.' He was more persistent than any patient I have met to get this procedure done once he realized this was an option."

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