Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 24, 2026

Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma
Published on: November 4, 2010
Critical review of bronchial thermoplasty: where should it fit into asthma therapy?
Ajay Sheshadri1, Matthew McKenzie, Mario Castro
1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8052, 660 S. Euclid, St. Louis, MO, 63110-1093, USA, asheshad@dom.wustl.edu.
Abstract:
Bronchial thermoplasty is a device-based therapy for treatment of severe refractory asthma that uses radiofrequency energy to reduce airway smooth muscle and decrease bronchoconstriction. BT improves quality of life and decreases the rate of severe exacerbations with no known major long-term complications. The effectiveness of bronchial thermoplasty persists at least 5 years after the treatment is completed. Further investigation is needed to better define the specific subpopulation of patients with severe asthma who would best benefit from this treatment.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Chest Physiotherapy
Purpose
CPT is primarily used for patients with excessive bronchial secretions who have difficulty clearing...
Antiasthma Drugs: β2-Adrenoceptor Agonists
One class of bronchodilators includes β2-adrenoceptor agonists. These agents target the β2-adrenoceptors located on bronchial smooth muscle cells. By stimulating these receptors, β2-agonists induce...
COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids
Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
Drugs Used in Lower Respiratory Disorders: Overview
Bronchodilators, the first step of respiration enhancement, come in various forms, each with its own mechanism...
Asthma I: Introduction

