Applications

1384 – Bronchial thermoplasty for the treatment of severe persistent asthma

Find out about the service or technology in this application and the medical condition it addresses. You can also view the application documents, the deadlines for providing consultation input and the outcome of the application when the MSAC process is complete.

  • Status Complete
  • Type New application
  • Pre-PASC consultation -
  • Pre-MSAC consultation -
  • Outcome Not supported

Application details

Reason for application

New MBS item.

Service or technology in this application

Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is performed in a bronchoscopy/endoscopy suite and takes about an hour to complete each of the three required treatments. BT is usually conducted under moderate sedation. Post-procedure, patients are observed and monitored for approximately 2-4 hours.

Type: Therapeutic

Medical condition this application addresses

People with asthma have sensitive airways in their lungs which react to triggers that set off their asthma. Three main factors cause the airways to narrow:

  • The inside lining of the airways becomes red and swollen (inflammation);
  • Extra mucus (sticky fluid) may be produced, which can block up airways;
  • Muscles around the airways squeeze tight (bronchoconstriction).

One in ten people in Australia has asthma (Asthma Australia).

Meetings to consider this application

  • PASC meeting: 14 to 15 August 2014
  • ESC meeting: 12 to 13 February 2015
  • MSAC meeting: 1 to 2 April 2015