Volunteers are being recruited for the research study of a new investigational procedure that could help relieve shortness of breath and other symptoms for people with severe emphysema.

Called airway bypass, this minimally invasive procedure creates new openings in the airway wall connecting the damaged lung tissue to the natural airway. These pathways are supported and kept open by Exhale® Drug-Eluting Stents. The goal is to give air that is trapped in the lungs a way to escape, enabling the person to breathe easier.

The bronchoscopic procedure is being tested by lung experts at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and other sites internationally, as part of the Exhale Airway Stents for Emphysema (EASE) Trial.

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is currently recruiting patients for the EASE Trial. Involvement in the study will last from approximately 15 months up to 5 years (depending on if the patient is randomized to the control or the treatment group) and include 8 to 16 physician appointments. All study-related medical procedures will be carried out at no charge to the patient. Patients will be closely monitored throughout the trial. Participants will also receive at least 14 weeks of pulmonary rehabilitation therapy.

If you or someone you know over the age of 35 has been diagnosed with advanced widespread emphysema and no longer smoke (or would be willing to stop smoking two months prior to the study), you may qualify to participate in this study. For more information please call 866-431-3273 or visit EASEtrialUS.

EASE Trial