In a first in the Indian Sub-Continent, Royal Care Hospital has said it had introduced bronchial thermplasty technology to treat asthma.

According to sources, it is a new treatment modality for severe asthma and is a bronchoscopic intervention done when the patient is under sedation.

“A small tube is passed into the patient’s airway through which a special radio frequency catheter is introduced,” said a hospital statement.

The treatment had reportedly proved effective in reducing the number of asthma attacks, emergency visits and medications.

Hospital Chairman Dr. K. Maheshwaran said the treatment would be helpful to the department of interventional pulmonology in providing advanced treatment.