The process
From the first call to the 12-month check, step by step
The flow below is based on the published study protocol and on our coordination practice. Durations are typical values, not commitments; all clinical decisions rest with your physician.
- Step 1
Free preliminary assessment
After you submit the form we call you. We discuss your medical history, current medication and symptoms. If you already have spirometry and chest CT results, sharing them speeds things up. This call is not an examination; its purpose is to point you to the right specialist and the right question.
- Step 2
The eligibility decision rests with a physician
The method is not for every COPD patient. The published study was conducted in the chronic bronchitis-predominant phenotype, GOLD stage II–IV, with mMRC ≥ 2. Only a pulmonologist can decide on eligibility, based on examination and tests. If you are not found suitable, we tell you plainly.
- Step 3International patients
Hospital, date and travel plan
If you are found suitable, the hospital and the date are planned. If you are travelling from abroad, we also plan your flight, transfer and accommodation at this stage. The cost becomes clear at this point and is shared by phone.
- 1 day beforeInternational patients
Arrival and pre-procedure tests
Pre-hospital blood tests, ECG and anaesthesia assessment are carried out. You will be asked to fast for a defined period before bronchoscopy; if you take blood thinners, your physician plans how to manage them.
- Procedure day
The bronchoscopic procedure
The procedure is performed under operating-room conditions, under sedation, endoscopically through the mouth; it takes about 30–45 minutes. There is no surgical incision. You remain under observation for a while afterwards.
- Important
The protocol is not a single session
In the published prospective study, each patient received 3 intervention sessions. How many sessions you need depends on your physician's assessment; do not plan your schedule or budget assuming a single session.
- After the procedure
Discharge and the first days
Patients can usually return to daily life quickly. In the first days you may notice throat soreness, mild cough or a temporary increase in sputum. You are given written instructions on which symptom requires contacting whom.
- Months 3, 6 and 12
Follow-up
In the published study, follow-up was carried out at months 3, 6 and 12 after the final intervention. These visits assess breathlessness (mMRC), exacerbation frequency and quality of life. If you are abroad, we coordinate follow-up with your own physician.
- Expectations
What to expect and what not to
Published data reported significant improvement in breathlessness, exacerbation frequency and quality of life; no significant change was found in lung function (FEV1) or 6-minute walk distance. The method does not cure COPD and does not reverse permanent lung damage.
The first step of the journey is a free preliminary assessment
To find out whether you may be suitable, we start with a short preliminary assessment. If you are not found suitable, we tell you plainly.
This page is for information only and does not replace a physician's examination. Consult a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment decisions.