Dr. Rodney Benjamin, Critical Care and Pulmonary Medicine Physician with South Miami Hospital, says Bronchial Thermoplasty is a way to induce high degrees of thermal energy into the bronchial tubes and shrink the smooth muscle that constricts in the airways.

“We use a bronchoscope to go through the nose under some anesthesia. We blow out this three-pronged metal catheter and we hit a foot pedal and it sends energy into the airway and it fries the smooth muscle which becomes very large. It is a terrific therapy for people who have the right kind of asthma because once you’ve done it, it’s done,” he explains.