Dr. Lisa Kopas Discusses a New Asthma Treatment on 740am KTRH – March 25th, 2012
New Asthma Treatment: Bronchial Thermoplasty – March 25th, 2012
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Dr. Lisa Kopas, a pulmonary physician, with Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, joined Dr. Galati to discuss a new therapy for patients with asthma.
Bronchial thermoplasty is an outpatient procedure that treats severe asthma by going to the source. The lungs consist of multiple airway passages that are surrounded by airway smooth muscle. For patients with asthma, this smooth airway muscle is more susceptible to triggers and irritants that can cause it to constrict and reduce the amount of airflow through the lungs. Bronchial thermoplasty uses radiofrequency waves to shrink the smooth muscle reducing the muscle’s ability to constrict, thereby creating a larger airway. This increased airflow results in a decreased frequency of asthma attacks.
