A COLLAPSED lung caused by more than 50 years of smoking resulted in one woman becoming the first patient in the area to benefit from a new valve treatment to improve lung function.

Pat Maloney had suffered for years with emphysema – a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath – before falling ill and being treated at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

While the collapsed lung was quickly re-inflated, the admission to hospital brought the 71-year-old under the watchful eyes of a team of respiratory and cardiothoracic specialists at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

Prior to this procedure, Ms Maloney's advanced emphysema had left her reliant on home oxygen, even simple tasks such as showering or going to the shop had left her struggling for breath.

 

Pat Maloney with the tiny Pulmonx valve

But the retired library assistant from Normanby says she is now feeling “marvellous” after having four tiny Pulmonx valves inserted into her lung. The procedure was carried out in just 20 minutes using a catheter to insert the valves.

She said: “Before the procedure I was on oxygen, I could not shower or dress – trivial things I could not do. Now I can potter in the garden or can go shopping, and I’m not on the oxygen as much as I was.”

Respiratory consultant Ramamurthy Sathyamurthy and cardiothoracic consultant Joel Dunning were the first to carry out the minimally invasive procedure.

Mr Dunning said: “The Pulmonx valve provides a new treatment option which avoids the need for surgery. The one-way valve prevents airflow into the diseased part of the lung, allowing healthier regions to expand and function more efficiently.

"There are around 3,000 people in the region on home oxygen, only half have seen a specialist. But this new treatment improves lung function, exercise capacity and quality of life.”