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Sufferers to breathe easy

Andy Cronshaw
5/ 9/2003

A DOCTOR in south Manchester has developed a new technique that may change the way asthma is treated across the world.

Wythenshawe Hospital specialist Rob Niven has pioneered a treatment called bronchial thermoplasty and is now carrying out further tests with colleagues across Europe.

He said: "Heat is applied to the airways to reduce the constriction of the airway walls, which is normally a feature of an asthma episode.

"The treatment can potentially reduce the severity and frequency of asthma attacks, and could change the way we treat asthmatic patients in the future."

In bronchial thermoplasty, Doctor Niven passes a device into the lungs through a tube - through the nose or mouth.

Then the airways are treated with heat as the doctor watches the process on a screen.

Airways are treated in half-hour treatment sessions, with three treatment sessions required to fully treat both lungs.

Although the researchers point out that there is no expectation that this new procedure will cure asthma it is hoped that bronchial thermoplasty could be useful in reducing the severity and frequency of asthma attacks.

Dr Niven anticipates enrolling up to 20 patients over the next year at the North West Lung Research Centre in Wythenshawe Hospital as part of the 110 patients enrolled across the various study sites. He has so far enrolled 5 patients and requires up to 15 more.

• For further information regarding this research please contact Dr. Curig Prys-Picard on 0161 291 5050.