A prospective feasibility study of bronchial thermoplasty in the human airway.

Background: Bronchial thermoplasty is a novel procedure being developed as a potential treatment for asthma. Experience with animal studies has enabled development of appropriate reliable equipment, definition of therapeutic parameters, and descriptions of tissue effects of treatment.

Study Objectives: This study was undertaken to assess the feasibility and general safety of the application of bronchial thermoplasty in the human airway, and to determine if the reduction in airway smooth muscle seen in animal studies could be replicated.

Reduction in airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine by the application of RF energy in dogs.

We delivered controlled radio frequency energy to the airways of anesthetized, ventilated dogs to examine the effect of this treatment on reducing airway narrowing caused by a known airway constrictor. The airways of 11 dogs were treated with a specially designed bronchial catheter in three of four lung regions. Treatments in each of the three treated lung regions were controlled to a different temperature (55, 65, and 75 degrees C); the untreated lung region served as a control.