This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
New ‘life-changing’ asthma procedure approved for NHS
New draft guidance by NICE has revealed that a potentially life changing treatment for some adults with severe asthma is safe and effective enough for use on the NHS.
Asthma is a long-term condition of the airways in the lungs that affects children, young people and adults, causing inflammation and constriction of the smooth muscle in the airway walls (bronchoconstriction). It is diagnosed and its severity assessed on the basis of symptoms and objective tests of lung function.
Bronchial thermoplasty for severe asthma takes place under sedation or general anaesthetic and short pulses of radiofrequency energy are applied to the airway wall. Two further sessions of treatment with three weeks intervals take place to complete the procedure, reducing the smooth muscle mass lining the airways, decreasing their ability to constrict.
Depending on commissioning arrangements, having the procedure may decrease the severity and frequency of severe asthma attacks, thereby improving quality of life.
Kevin Harris, programme director and clinical advisor for the Interventional Procedures Programme at NICE, said: “This is a procedure which is innovative and it does work. If you are frequently admitted to hospital with severe asthma which cannot be controlled with drugs, this is a procedure which people may wish to consider after discussions with their clinician.
“Asthma is a common disease and the vast majority of patients won’t require this treatment. But for people with severe asthma this procedure could be life changing. The committee was convinced it was safe enough and works well enough for use with standard arrangements in the NHS.”
The consultation for this draft guidance closes on 28 September 2018.
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