Abstract
Introduction: CB patients may benefit from ablation of mucus-producing airway cells. Bronchial Rheoplasty is a new procedure in which Pulsed Electric Fields are delivered to the airways via an endobronchial catheter. Preclinical studies demonstrated epithelial ablation and rapid regeneration with this technique.
Methods: Patients with symptomatic CB underwent Bronchial Rheoplasty under general anesthesia, performed on the right-sided airways first, followed by left side treatment one month later. Endobronchial cryobiopsies were obtained before treatment and at follow up and evaluated by an independent blinded core lab. Changes in symptoms, quality of life and pulmonary function were assessed.
Results: 25 patients with CB were enrolled (62.5% male, age 66.3±7.6 yrs, Post-BD FEV1 59.0±16.1%). There were no serious adverse events associated with Rheoplasty. Non-serious adverse events included COPD exacerbations (36% of patients), mild hemoptysis (40%), and dyspnea (12%). A reduction in goblet cell hyperplasia was measured in 63.6% of treated airways (p <0.01). Mean CAT and SGRQ scores at 6-months (n=13) were -7.8±9.1 points (p< 0.01) and -19.0±24.4 points (p<0.05), respectively. There were no significant changes in pulmonary function.
Conclusion: Early results demonstrate safety and feasibility of Bronchial Rheoplasty in CB patients. Further studies are required to confirm these results.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2018 52: Suppl. 62, OA2162.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2018
