Evidence on the safety and efficacy of endobronchial nerve ablation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is inadequate in quantity. Therefore, this procedure should only be used in the context of research. Find out what only in research means on the NICE interventional procedures guidance page.
Further research should be randomised controlled trials comparing the procedure with sham treatment. It should report details of patient selection, and short and long-term functional outcomes including lung functional outcomes, quality of life and patient-reported outcomes, incidence of exacerbations and hospital admissions, and all adverse events.