Asthma Issues
Innovative Breakthrough Treatment for Asthma
By
May 10, 2011 - 2:46:23 PM

YNHH only CT hospital performing bronchial thermoplasty

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - NEW HAVEN, CT - May 10, 2011 - Yale-New Haven Hospital (YNHH) has become the first hospital in Connecticut to perform bronchial thermoplasty, a non-drug procedure for severe persistent asthma in patients 18 years and older whose asthma is not well-controlled with inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-agonists.

Bronchial thermoplasty is performed with a catheter-like device that delivers thermal energy (heat) to the lungs of patients with asthma in order to decrease the amount of smooth muscle in the lungs. The smooth muscles are responsible for bronchoconstriction and asthma symptoms. For this procedure, patients must undergo a bronchoscopy, in which a bronchoscope is inserted into the airways through the nose or mouth. Bronchial thermoplasty allows patients to gain better control of their asthma because the lungs are not able to constrict as much and react as vigorously to asthma triggers.

"This new procedure offers an upgrade for treatment over inhaled drugs or other medications because we are attacking the problem at its very root - the lungs themselves," noted Jonathan Puchalski, MD, attending physician in pulmonary and critical care at YNHH and assistant professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine (YSM). "This device delivers the thermal energy to the airway wall, in a precisely controlled manner, in order to reduce excessive airway smooth muscle. This decreases the constriction of the airways and reduces the frequency of asthma attacks."

This minimally invasive procedure is performed in three outpatient visits, generally scheduled about three weeks apart, to treat different areas of the lungs. The procedure is performed under moderate sedation or light anesthesia, and the patient typically goes home the same day.

"With this breakthrough treatment, we are confident we will be able to alleviate much of the suffering of our patients with severe asthma," said Geoffrey Chupp, MD, director, Yale Center for Asthma and Airway Disease (YCAAD) and associate professor of medicine at YSM. "In the past, these patients received high doses of medication and continued to suffer from frequent asthma attacks and limitations on routine daily activities, as well as frequent emergency room visits. Bronchial thermoplasty gives new hope to those asthmatic patients and a non-drug option to control their disease."

"We feel that bronchial thermoplasty is expected to fully complement asthma maintenance medications by providing long-lasting asthma control and improving asthma-related quality of life of patients with severe asthma," concluded both Drs. Chupp and Puchalski. "For those with severe asthma, this is a terrific option where medication can fall short."

For more information on bronchial thermoplasty and other asthma research, contact the Yale Center for Asthma and Airway Disease website at ycaad.yale.edu through the "Connect with YCAAD" tab.



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Yale-New Haven Hospital is a 966-bed, not-for-profit hospital serving as the primary teaching hospital for the Yale School of Medicine. Yale-New Haven was founded as the fourth voluntary hospital in the U.S. in 1826 and today, the hospital complex includes Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital, Yale-New Haven Psychiatric Hospital and Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven, which opened in October 2009. YNHH has a combined medical staff of about 3,400 university and community physicians practicing in more than 100 specialties. Visit www.ynhh.org for additional information. For the latest news and information, follow us on Twitter @ynhh or to read about other news stories, please visit our new News Tips section of the Newsroom on our website.



Established in 1810, the Yale School of Medicine is known throughout the world as one of the leading centers for biomedical research, education and advanced health care. Founded in 1810, the School of Medicine has grown to include every modern medical discipline. Its faculty includes some of the world's most respected scholars in medicine, public health and biomedical science. http://info.med.yale.edu/ysm/

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