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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/31/new-treatment-for-severe-asthma-cases-gets-go-ahead-for-use-in-nhs
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| New treatment for severe asthma cases gets go-ahead for use in NHS | New treatment for severe asthma cases gets go-ahead for use in NHS |
| (4 months later) | |
| Tens of thousands of sufferers from the most serious form of asthma will be able to have a new treatment that experts believe reduces the risk of them ending up in hospital or dying. | Tens of thousands of sufferers from the most serious form of asthma will be able to have a new treatment that experts believe reduces the risk of them ending up in hospital or dying. |
| The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has approved the procedure, which is called bronchial thermoplasty. | The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has approved the procedure, which is called bronchial thermoplasty. |
| It involves the patient having bursts of heat applied to their airways through a wire that has been put down their throat. That reduces the excess smooth muscle tissue which, in asthmatics, can lead to their airways becoming constricted, resulting in serious breathing difficulties. | It involves the patient having bursts of heat applied to their airways through a wire that has been put down their throat. That reduces the excess smooth muscle tissue which, in asthmatics, can lead to their airways becoming constricted, resulting in serious breathing difficulties. |
| Nice’s decision offers a lifeline to people in England and Wales who have severe asthma, which is not relieved by the drugs usually used to prevent and respond to attacks. | Nice’s decision offers a lifeline to people in England and Wales who have severe asthma, which is not relieved by the drugs usually used to prevent and respond to attacks. |
| “Having the procedure may decrease the severity and frequency of severe asthma attacks, thereby improving quality of life”, Nice said in a statement. | “Having the procedure may decrease the severity and frequency of severe asthma attacks, thereby improving quality of life”, Nice said in a statement. |
| Asthma deaths rise 25% amid growing air pollution crisis | |
| Asthma UK welcomed the move. Joe Farrington-Douglas, its head of policy and external affairs, said: “This debilitating form of asthma is resistant to regular treatments, meaning many have to cope with terrifying asthma symptoms, such as gasping for breath, as well as repeated trips to A&E. Every asthma attack is life-threatening.” | Asthma UK welcomed the move. Joe Farrington-Douglas, its head of policy and external affairs, said: “This debilitating form of asthma is resistant to regular treatments, meaning many have to cope with terrifying asthma symptoms, such as gasping for breath, as well as repeated trips to A&E. Every asthma attack is life-threatening.” |
| The procedure has only been available to some patients in certain hospitals but Nice’s decision should mean that it is widely available. | The procedure has only been available to some patients in certain hospitals but Nice’s decision should mean that it is widely available. |
| “This is a procedure which is innovative and it does work”, said Prof Kevin Harris, programme director and clinical advisor for Nice’s interventional procedures programme. | “This is a procedure which is innovative and it does work”, said Prof Kevin Harris, programme director and clinical advisor for Nice’s interventional procedures programme. |
| A lung specialist called a pulmonologist performs the procedure. Patients are sedated and then a flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end is passed through their nose or mouth into their lungs. A wire is then inserted into the airways through the tube and delivers short pulses of radiofrequency heat – about the same temperature as a warm cup of tea – to the walls of the airways. | A lung specialist called a pulmonologist performs the procedure. Patients are sedated and then a flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end is passed through their nose or mouth into their lungs. A wire is then inserted into the airways through the tube and delivers short pulses of radiofrequency heat – about the same temperature as a warm cup of tea – to the walls of the airways. |
| Patients have three sessions of the treatment, each lasting 30-60 minutes, about three weeks apart. | Patients have three sessions of the treatment, each lasting 30-60 minutes, about three weeks apart. |
| “Nice was convinced it was safe enough and works well enough for use with standards arrangements in the NHS,” added Harris. | “Nice was convinced it was safe enough and works well enough for use with standards arrangements in the NHS,” added Harris. |
| Asthma | Asthma |
| The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) | The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) |
| Health | Health |
| NHS | NHS |
| news | news |
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