Several emerging bronchoscopic treatments have the potential to improve the quality of life for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, an investigator reported at the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians.
Targeted lung denervation is one promising novel therapeutic option that is safe and may improve clinical outcomes according to investigator Christian Ghattas, MD.
Data from an ongoing phase 3 randomized controlled trial may provide new information on the efficacy of targeted lung denervation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), said Ghattas, assistant professor of medicine and associate program director for the interventional pulmonary fellowship at The Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus.
"Outcome data of longer follow-up on previously treated patients will provide us with more information on the durability and the effect of this treatment," Ghattas said in an online presentation at the CHEST meeting, which was held virtually this year.
Meanwhile, a few compelling bronchoscopic treatment modalities for patients with chronic bronchitis are in earlier stages of clinical development. "Larger randomized, controlled trials are ongoing to confirm the available data and to evaluate treatment durability," said Ghattas.
Targeted Lung Denervation
The targeted lung denervation system under study (dNerva®, Nuvaira Inc.) involves the use of a radiofrequency catheter to ablate the peribronchial branches of the vagus nerve, Ghattas said.
