Botox helping asthma patients in Vic trial
Botox helping asthma patients in Vic trial
A world first trial in Melbourne that uses Botox to help reduce severe asthma has delivered some remarkable results.
Researchers at the Monash Medical Centre have injected Botox into the voice box of asthma patients.
A group of patients was treated with injections, with 60 per cent reporting a reduction in the number of attacks.
The procedure paralyses one vocal cord, allowing breath to move freely through the throat.
Lynn Dowsey received the Botox treatment, which is commonly used to paralyse wrinkles.
The 68-year-old has suffered a life-time of wheezing and breathlessness, but has noticed a dramatic difference since the treatment.
"I can get up off my seat without struggling to breathe," she said.
The trial took 18 months of research and involved a team of 11 researchers.
"Some of our patients have one injection and improve remarkably and didn't need any more treatment," said respiratory specialist Dr Phil Bardin.
"Two patients needed three injections and after that the problems seem to settle down.
"Overall, their lives are improved because they are not as breathless as they have been in the past."
More trials will be carried out to prove its success.
Further information is available by contacting the research team on: (03) 9594 2620.
