
Bronchial Thermoplasty (BT) is for adult patients with Severe Asthma for whom medication, alone, isn't enough
Some patients still experience exacerbations and significantly limit their quality of life (assessed by AIS-6 or AQLQ), despite their recommended medication regimen.
These patients may benefit from Bronchial Thermoplasty to reduce their exacerbations. Fewer exacerbations may mean less need for the associated oral steroid treatment—and its side effects.
BT is for:
Patients on maximum tolerated doses of combined ICS and LABA such as Advair™, Dulera™ and Symbicort™, and who experience one or more of the following:
- Take oral steroids for acute exacerbations more than twice a year
- Anti-IgE therapy candidates or non-responders
- Take oral steroids as daily maintenance medication
Societies support Bronchial Thermoplasty as a therapy for patients with Severe Asthma
ACAAI
INTERASMA
CHEST
AAN
AAFA
BT is included in asthma guidelines and strategy statements



Global asthma experts explain who benefits from BT
"There is a really positive experience when you see a patient and their asthma has changed because of this treatment."
— Robert Niven, MD
— Robert Niven, MD

Global asthma experts explain how BT improves quality of life
"They get the freedom to resume some of the normal activities that most of us take for granted."
— Carla Lamb, MD
— Carla Lamb, MD

BT is not for patients who:
- Are under 18 years old
- Have a pacemaker, internal defibrillator, or other implantable electronic device
- Have a known sensitivity to medications required to perform bronchoscopy, including lidocaine, atropine, and benzodiazepines
- Have been treated previously with BT
Patients who chose BT to better manage their Severe Asthma
References
- Adapted from the Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention, Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) 2014. Available from: https://www.ginasthma.org/.
- American College of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology (ACAAI). Statement On Bronchial Thermoplasty. May 2015.
- INTERASMA (Global Asthma Association). Bronchial Thermoplasty: An Additional Option for Managing Patients with Severe Asthma. October 2014
- CHEST American College of Chest Physicians. Position Statement for Coverage and Payment for Bronchial Thermoplasty. May 12, 2014
- Allergy & Asthma Network (AAN). Bronchial Thermoplasty. June 2015
- Asthma Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). Patient Advocacy Support for Full Medical Coverage for Bronchial Thermoplasty (BT) to Treat Severe Asthma. 2009
- From the Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention, Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) 2015. May 19, 2015
- GEMA4.0. Guía española para el manejo del asma © 2015, Comité Ejecutivo de la GEMA. Todos los derechos reservados ISBN: 978-84-7989-840-3. Depósito legal: M-13523-2015.
- Associazione Italiana Pneumologi Ospedalieri (AIPO). Rassegna di Patologia dell'Apparato Respiratorio - fascicolo 1/2015.
- British Thoracic Society (BTS). British guideline on the management of asthma. October 2014.
- Kian Fan Chung et al: International ERS/ATS guidelines on definition, evaluation and treatment of severe asthma. Eur Respir J. 2014; 43: 343–373 | DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00202013
- Wechsler ME and Cox GP. Letter to Editor. Eur Respir J. 2014; 44: 267 | DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00043514
- Kian Fan Chung, Sally E. Wenzel and Jan L. Brozek for the ERS/ATS Task Force on Definition, Evaluation and Treatment of Severe Asthma. Response to Letter to Editor. Eur Respir J. 2014; 44: 267–268 | DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00064614
- Castro M, et al, for the AIR2 Trial Study Group. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2010;181:116-124.