Burning Off Lung Tissue Can Help Treat Asthma 

Burning Off Lung Tissue Can Help Treat Asthma

WASHINGTON-Burning off lung tissue in asthma patients can help their breathing, according to a study published last month in the Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.


The procedure, known as bronchial thermoplasty, uses a modified bronchoscope to send radiofrequency waves to essentially microwave the smooth mass of muscle in the walls of conducting airways.


According to the study, the treatment reduces the potential for smooth muscle-mediated bronchoconstriction, helping patients to breathe.


The study, performed by researchers at a number of cooperating Canadian universities, looked at 16 subjects with mild to moderate asthma over two years in an attempt to examine the safety of the procedure and its impact on lung function and airway responsiveness.


The subjects completed follow-up evaluations at 12 weeks, one and two years. Data from daily diaries that the subjects kept for the initial 12 weeks indicated significant improvement in breathing on symptom-free days, morning peak flow and evening peak flow measurements. Spirometry measurements remained stable throughout the study period.


The results showed that all patients demonstrated improvement in airway responsiveness and that treatment is well-tolerated in patients with asthma, resulting in decreased airway hyperresponsiveness that persists for at least two years.


According to the study, the side effects of the treatment, which included some coughing and wheezing, are commonly observed after a common bronchoscopy and cleared within a few days.

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