Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals Kolkata first time in Eastern India launched Bronchial Thermoplasty, a painless procedure for effective treatment of severe asthma. The treatment uses a catheter, which is inserted through the windpipe to deliver heat. This heat is targeted to the smooth muscles of the lungs so that those muscles shrink and can’t get tightened to cause asthma symptoms anymore. The procedure typically needs three sittings with a gap of three weeks between each sitting.

Bronchial Thermoplasty was performed at Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals, Calcutta, on two patients on March 14, 2022. Post-procedure, the patients are stable.

Dr Debraj Jash, Consultant Pulmonologist at Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals, Calcutta, who performed both the procedures, said, “In India, a significant proportion of the population suffers from severe asthma. As a result, Bronchial Thermoplasty is an effective treatment for non-allergic asthma. It was a real challenge to introduce this procedure in the eastern part of the country.”

About 300 million people in the world suffer from asthma out of which about 5-10% people are the ones who get hospitalised due the severity of the disease. If the problem persists for such patients even after using inhaler with correct medicines and procedure for 2-3 months, then they need to go for Pulmonary Function Test. If either of IGE or Eosinophil is low in the result, only then they can go for this treatment.

Dr Sushil Agarwal, Consultant Pulmonologist, Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals Kolkata said, “Internationally, Bronchial Thermoplasty is a huge saviour for severe asthma patients and we hope that it’s the same here. Post Bronchial Thermoplasty people are relieved and get back to normal life without regular asthma attacks disrupting their schedule.”

On the occasion of the launch of the procedure, Mr Rana Dasgupta, CEO-Eastern Region, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals, Kolkata, continues to be the leader in bringing in new technologies and performing path-breaking procedures. Our committed clinicians, with the help of this state-of-the-art technology, would help many asthma patients.”