Bronchial Thermoplasty and Other Innovative Asthma Treatments

Norton Pulmonary Specialists have the training and experience to provide innovative asthma treatment, such as bronchial thermoplasty, to patients in Louisville and Southern Indiana.

The board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians at Norton Pulmonary Specialists can provide a precise diagnosis for your asthma and develop a customized treatment plan.

Our interventional pulmonologists perform bronchial thermoplasty, a revolutionary and minimally invasive treatment for severe asthma that reduces the rate of asthma attacks. Bronchial thermoplasty can help you if you have persistent, severe asthma.

Your pulmonologist uses a bronchoscope — a small flexible tube — to reach areas of your respiratory system where your airways are prone to constriction from excess smooth muscle. While you are sedated, the pulmonologist threads the bronchoscope through your mouth or nose and delivers a controlled dose of mild heat to the troublesome area.

The treatment typically helps control asthma for up to a year, with fewer severe attacks and fewer asthma symptoms.

Bronchial thermoplasty takes about an hour to complete, with no incision. Patients typically are monitored for up to four hours before going home the same day. Asthma symptoms may worsen for a few days following the treatment before longer-term improvement is noticeable.

Leading-edge Asthma Treatment and Testing

Norton Pulmonary Specialists has a large research department and participates in many research trials, so you have access to the latest asthma treatments.

We can make a more precise asthma diagnosis by conducting “FeNO” testing to measure nitric oxide. Inflammation produces nitrous oxide gas. Measuring how much of it you exhale in a FeNO test gives a clear indication of how much inflammation you have. It also shows how effectively steroids and other treatments have reduced inflammation.

We’re also experienced in the latest medicine therapies, such as a new biologic class of medications to treat asthma symptoms.

Care That’s Convenient for You

• Norton Pulmonary Specialists is recognized by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association as an accredited Pulmonary Hypertension Care Center — the only one in Kentucky. This distinction highlights our physicians’ expertise in pulmonary hypertension, especially pulmonary arterial hypertension, and their commitment to improving care and outcomes for patients with this life-threatening condition.
• Our staff includes interventional pulmonologists who are trained and experienced in minimally invasive diagnostics and treatment, including robotic-assisted bronchoscopy, meaning you’ll have access to advanced technology for your care.
• We have seven convenient Louisville-area locations: Northeastern Louisville, downtown Louisville, Newburg, Pleasure Ridge Park and Mount Washington, Kentucky; in Southern Indiana, Jeffersonville and Scottsburg.
• We provide pulmonary care and respiratory management of critical care patients at Norton Audubon Hospital, Norton Brownsboro Hospital and Norton Hospital.
• Norton Healthcare’s pulmonary rehabilitation program has three locations in Louisville and is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
• We work as a team with referring physicians, including pediatricians.
• Medicare, Medicaid and most major commercial insurance plans are accepted.

About Norton Pulmonary Specialists

The board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians with Norton Pulmonary Specialists, formerly Chest Medicine Associates and Kentuckiana Pulmonary Associates, are leaders in caring for Louisville and Southern Indiana patients with asthma, COPD, emphysema and other lung diseases.

• Norton Healthcare is recognized by U.S. News & World Report on its “Best Hospitals” list as No. 1 in the Louisville area, with a “high performing” rating in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) through Norton Pulmonary Specialists.  
• Norton Pulmonary Specialists is recognized by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association as an accredited Pulmonary Hypertension Care Center — the only one in Kentucky. This distinction highlights our physicians’ expertise in pulmonary hypertension, especially pulmonary arterial hypertension, and their commitment to improving care and outcomes for patients with this life-threatening condition.
• Our staff includes interventional pulmonologists who are trained and experienced in minimally invasive diagnostics and treatment, including robotic-assisted bronchoscopy, meaning you’ll have access to advanced technology for your care.
• We have seven convenient Louisville-area locations: Northeastern Louisville, downtown Louisville, Newburg, Pleasure Ridge Park and Mount Washington, Kentucky; in Southern Indiana, Jeffersonville and Scottsburg.
• We provide pulmonary care and respiratory management of critical care patients at Norton Audubon Hospital, Norton Brownsboro Hospital and Norton Hospital.
• Norton Healthcare’s pulmonary rehabilitation program has three locations in Louisville and is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
• We work as a team with referring physicians, including pediatricians.
• Medicare, Medicaid and most major commercial insurance plans are accepted.
• Communicate with your provider, manage appointments, refill prescriptions and more anytime from a computer or mobile device with a free Norton MyChart account.