Table 2.
Patient selection criteria for the use of bronchial thermoplasty
| Inclusion criteria | Exclusion criteria |
|---|---|
| Adults with diagnosis of asthma for more than 24 months according to the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) 2016 Global Management and Prevention Guidelines51 | Patients with history of acute life-threatening asthma exacerbations |
| Patients with two exacerbations within one year before bronchial thermoplasty, or on oral corticosteroids or needing hospitalization or emergency medical care | Use of beta-blocker drugs |
| Pre-bronchodilator FEV1 ≥60% of predicted | Pacemaker, internal defibrillator, or other implanted electronic devices |
| Patients unresponsive to biological therapy | Known sensitivity to medications used for bronchoscopy, including lidocaine, atropine, and benzodiazepines |
| Patients unwilling to undergo a life-long biological therapy | Pregnant women |
Abbreviation: FEV1, forced expiratory volume in one second.