What Is Bronchial Thermoplasty?
Bronchial Thermoplasty (BT) is a procedure that improves the asthma-related quality of life for people with severe asthma that have failed conventional therapy. The Bronchial Thermoplasty procedure reduces asthma attacks by reducing airway smooth muscle responsible for airway constriction, which in turn reduces asthma attacks and makes breathing easier. It may also allow you to use less medication to make your life more manageable.
If you suffer from difficult to control asthma and have found that many therapies don’t work, Dr. Marc Bowen recommends that you undergo an evaluation for Bronchial Thermoplasty.
Who is a Good Candidate for Bronchial Thermoplasty?
These are treatments for patients with severe asthma who haven’t responded to conservative or conventional treatments.
You could be a candidate for bronchial thermoplasty if you…Â
-   Have asthma attacks that aren’t controlled by steroid-based inhalers or asthma medicines called beta-agonists
- Â Â Are between the ages of 18 and 65
- Â Â Have not smoked for the past year
- Â Â Need oral steroids to help control your asthma
Advantages Of Bronchial Thermoplasty
- Improved quality of life
- Fewer amounts of medications
- Fewer asthma attacks
- Fewer ER visits
- Fewer absences from school/work or other daily activities
How Does Bronchial Thermoplasty Work?
Your Bronchial Thermoplasty physician will insert a bronchoscope through the nose or mouth so no incision is necessary. During the BT procedure, a carefully controlled device delivers mild heat to the smooth muscle of the airways in your lungs, reducing the amount of excessive smooth muscle to reduce bronchial constriction. You can follow up with Dr. Bowen in the office for continued management of your asthma.
How Long Does the Bronchical Thermoplasty Procedure Take?
These treatments with Dr. Bowen take about one hour. After the treatment, you’ll need to rest for three to four hours before a subsequent evaluation. At that point, you’ll be released to return home if your vital signs and lung function are near normal levels, or you may need to spend one night in the hospital.
Does a Bronchial Thermoplasty Require Anesthesia?
Yes. You will prepare by taking a 50-milligram steroid pill orally once daily for three days before your procedure. You will take one additional pill the day of your thermoplasty. For your procedure, we will administer medicine to make you sleepy, but you will not be under general anesthesia. We will also use medication to numb your mouth and throat.
How Long Will My Bronchial Thermoplasty Procedure Results Last?
Bronchial Thermoplasty is a procedure that is clinically proven to reduce asthma attacks for up to 5 years. During each session, a different part of the lung is treated to ensure safety.
What is Recovery Like After Bronchial Thermoplasty?
Immediately after your bronchial thermoplasty with Dr. Bowen you can expect an increase in the frequency and worsening of your respiratory-related symptoms. These events typically occur within one day of the procedure and resolve within seven days. This is the reason some patients will need to spend the night after their procedure in the hospital.
There isn’t any required recovery, but you should lay low initially until you see how your lungs and asthma respond to this treatment.
The day after your treatment, you will take a 50-milligram steroid pill to help calm your symptoms after this treatment.
Once your lungs recover, we will schedule your second treatment. These procedures involve three treatments, each treating a different part of the lung to ensure safety.
What Are the Risks of a Bronchial Thermoplasty?
There are some risks involved with this new asthma treatment. The most common side effect of bronchial thermoplasty is temporary worsening of respiratory-related symptoms. This side effect typically occurs within one day of your procedure and resolves within seven days on average. This is a small risk of these symptoms requiring hospitalization.
Is Bronchial Thermoplasty Covered by Insurance?
Bronchial thermoplasty has been considered to be an experimental treatment by many insurance companies. But that has changed and some companies now cover the treatments, while others do not. Some offer partial coverage. As with most procedures in our healthcare system, there is a wide discrepancy between different providers and different health plans.
If you are concerned if your insurance provider will cover this procedure with Dr. Bowen, you should contact your insurer prior to having this treatment.
Read What Our Patients Are Saying!
"He was patient and took time to explain everything to me in detail. Saw how uncomfortable and ill I was at the time of my visit and made sure I got treatment right away. Highly recommended!"
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Why Choose Dr. Marc Bowen for You Bronchial Thermoplasty?
Dr. Bowen is one the few NYC pulmonologists that offer the BT procedure at well-respected hospitals in Manhattan. With over three decades of pulmonology practice under his belt, Dr. Bowen is one of the most experienced pulmonary physicians in New York, dedicated to treating your breathing issues, improving your quality of life, and getting you back to your active lifestyle. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Bowen or call 212-480-4062 for asthma treatment and relief. Appointments will be confirmed by office staff.
Schedule A Consultation
If you are suffering from difficult to control asthma, please contact our office to schedule an evaluation so Dr. Bowen can determine whether the Bronchial Thermoplasty procedure is right for you.
