Abstract

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Title:: Research progress on bronchial thermoplasty in the treatment of refractory asthma

Author(s):: ZHANG Na’na; CAO Hua; WAN Yixin; Department of Respiratory Medicine, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China

Keywords:: ; refractory asthma; bronchial thermoplasty; bronchoscopy; individualized treatment; review

Abstract:: Abstract: Refractory asthma is difficult to be controlled with inhaled corticosteroids or oral corticosteroids. Because of its long-term recurrent episodes, refractory asthma severely affects the quality of life of patients and consumes a large amount of medical resources. Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is a novel treatment for refractory asthma that works by reducing the number of airway smooth muscles with radiofrequency ablation. Nowadays, more and more evidence suggests that BT is effective in alleviating symptoms of asthma, reducing asthma exacerbations and emergency department visits, and improving quality of life. Herein the clinical applications of BT, the use of imaging in BT, and the effects of BT on airway pathology are mainly reviewed to provide a reference for clinicians to select the appropriate patients for such treatment and assess their conditions.