NETT Sends Mostly Positive Message for Controversial Lung Procedure

The mystery is over; results of the National Emphysema Treatment Trial Research Group (NETT) have been unveiled and indicate that lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) is beneficial for some emphysema patients who have no alternatives. Although the study had mixed outcomes, which underscore the need for proper patient selection for the procedure, advocates are hoping that its clinical benefits will be enough to convince the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to reimburse for the surgery.

Device companies in interventional pulmonology like Spiration Inc. , Broncus Technologies Inc. , Emphasys Medical, and Closure Medical Inc. are relieved, because they too were looking to the...