Bronchial Thermoplasty

Bronchial Thermoplasty is a procedure that is used to reduce the amount of muscle that surrounds the airways in the lungs. In people with asthma, the muscle around the airways is thicker than in people who don't have asthma. When this muscle tightens it causes asthma symptoms and can lead to an asthma attack.

In bronchial thermoplasty, a long, flexible tube called a bronchoscope is passed through the nose or mouth and down into the lungs until it reaches the airways. A special fine wire is then passed down through the bronchoscope until the end touches the airways.  Radio waves are then used to heat up the wires touching the airways. This heats up the airway lining in a very controlled manner to about 65 degrees Celsius and this heat causes some of the muscle surrounding the airways to break up. This then makes it more difficult for the muscles surrounding the airways to tighten. The aim is to reduce asthma symptoms and the risk of asthma attacks.

Bronchial thermoplasty will not be available to everyone. At the moment it is only recommended for people with moderate to severe asthma who are 18 years or older.

While the procedure has undergone research and clinical trials for the last eight years, the first NHS bronchial thermoplasty was carried out at Gartnavel Hospital in Glasgow . It is not yet clear if and when the procedure will be available in other areas of the country. As more information about the success of this procedure becomes available, Asthma UK will review this information and update this FAQ. If you want to find out more about this procedure, please talk to your doctor or your asthma nurse. You can also speak, in confidence, to one of our asthma nurse specialists on the Asthma UK Adviceline on 0800 121 62 44, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. (Calls are free from BT landlines).