A long term
oxygen therapy
system having an
oxygen supply directly linked with a patient's
lung or lungs may be utilized to more efficiently treat hypoxia caused by chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease such as emphysema and
chronic bronchitis. The
system includes an
oxygen source, one or more valves and fluid carrying conduits. The fluid carrying conduits link the oxygen source to diseased sites within the patient's lungs. A collateral ventilation bypass trap
system directly linked with a patient's
lung or lungs may be utilized to increase the expiratory flow from the diseased
lung or lungs, thereby treating another aspect of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease. The system includes a trap, a filter / one-way valve and an air carrying conduit. In various embodiments, the system may be intrathoracic, extrathoracic or a combination thereof. A pulmonary decompression device may also be utilized to remove
trapped air in the lung or lungs, thereby reducing the volume of diseased
lung tissue. A lung reduction device may passively decompress the lung or lungs. In order for the system to be effective, an airtight seal between the parietal and visceral pleurae is required. Chemical
pleurodesis is utilized for creating the seal and various devices and / or drugs, agents and / or compounds may be utilized to accelerate
wound healing in thoracic
anastomosis applications.