About the Pulmonology
Department

The Pulmonology Department at Sunrise Hospital focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of diseases and disorders related to the respiratory system. It deals with conditions affecting the lungs and airways, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, tuberculosis, lung cancer, and various respiratory infections.

 

 

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Expertise in Respiratory Health

Pulmonology Services

The Pulmonology Department at Sunrise Hospital focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of diseases and disorders related to the respiratory system.

Treatment and Procedure

Interventional Pulmonology has revolutionized the field of Pulmonary Medicine by providing the most advanced minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat both malignant and non-malignant disorders of the lungs and airways and relieving symptoms that cause breathing discomfort. Removing Endoscopic Bronchial Tumors: A Bronchoscope is a flexible tube with a camera at the end that is used to deliver laser and other cancer-killing technologies to tumors buried deep inside the lungs. Placing fiducial markers: These tiny objects are placed in or near a tumor as a point of reference during stereotactic radiosurgery, a nonsurgical, precision-focused form of radiation therapy. Inserting airway stents: A stent is inserted to secure an open airway and help patients breathe better.

Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) is used to diagnose and treat symptoms in the chest, including lung cancer, with the aid of a thoracoscope—an endoscope with a small video camera—that transmits an image of the chest cavity onto a video monitor to help guide the procedure. VATS may be used to biopsy lung tissue and to perform complex procedures, such as lung resections (lobectomy).

It’s important to track and monitor your symptoms to see if they’re improving. Your doctor may recommend using a peak flow meter to measure your lung function. This can help you determine if your asthma is getting worse, even if you don’t feel different.

A skin prick test, also called a puncture or scratch test, checks for immediate allergic reactions to as many as 50 different substances at once. This test is usually done to identify allergies to pollen, mold, pet dander, dust mites and foods. In adults, the test is usually done on the forearm. Children may be tested on the upper back. Allergy skin tests aren't painful. This type of testing uses needles that barely penetrate the skin's surface. You won't bleed or feel more than mild, momentary discomfort.

Allergy blood tests are used to find out if you have an allergy. One type of test called a total IgE test measures the overall number of IgE antibodies in your blood. Another type of allergy blood test called a specific IgE test measures the level of IgE antibodies in response to individual allergens. Allergy Blood Test is done to with patients with symptoms like Stuffy or runny nose, Sneezing, Itchy, watery eyes, Hives (a rash with raised red patches), Diarrhea, Vomiting, Shortness of breath, Coughing and Wheezing. If your total IgE levels antobodies are higher than normal, it likely means you have some kind of allergy. But it does not reveal what you are allergic to. A specific IgE antibody test will help identify your particular allergy. Your treatment plan will depend on the type and severity of your allergy. People at risk for anaphylactic shock, a severe allergic reaction that can cause death, need to take extra care to avoid the allergy-causing substance. They may need to carry an emergency epinephrine treatment with them at all times.

A bronchoscopy is a test that allows your doctor to examine your airways. Your doctor will thread an instrument called a bronchoscope through your nose or mouth and down your throat to reach your larynx, trachea, and the smaller airways of your lungs, which include the bronchi and bronchioles.

Bronchoscopy is the most common Interventional Pulmonology procedure. During Bronchoscopy, a doctor advances a flexible endoscope (bronchoscope) through a person's mouth or nose into the windpipe. The doctor advances the Bronchoscope through the airways in each lung, checking for problems. Images from inside the lung are displayed on a video screen. The Bronchoscope has a channel at its tip, through which a doctor can pass small tools. Using these tools, the doctor can perform several other Interventional Pulmonology procedures.

Bronchoalveolar lavage is performed during bronchoscopy. Sterile water is injected through the bronchoscope into a segment of the lung. The fluid is then suctioned back and sent for tests. Bronchoalveolar lavage can help diagnose infection, cancer, bleeding, and other conditions.

Advanced cancer or certain other conditions can constrict or compress an airway tube (bronchus). If the bronchus becomes blocked, difficulty breathing, cough, and pneumonia can result. Using a bronchoscope, a doctor can advance a wire mesh stent into a narrowed airway. Expanding the stent can open a bronchus and relieve symptoms caused by the constriction.

A doctor advances a deflated balloon into a section of abnormally narrowed airway. By inflating the balloon with water, the airway is expanded, potentially relieving symptoms. Balloon bronchoplasty may be performed prior to airway stent placement to help expand a bronchus.

During bronchoscopy, a doctor may collect a small piece of tissue from either the lung or a nearby lymph node. The interventional pulmonologist can use a needle or forceps advanced through the bronchoscope to get a sample of tissue. Biopsies can detect cancer, infection, sarcoidosis, and other conditions.

Thermoplasty is an interventional pulmonology procedure for certain people with severe asthma that can’t be controlled with medications. During bronchoscopy, a doctor applies a heat probe to the walls of the airways. The heat destroys the smooth muscle layers whose constriction contributes to asthma symptoms.

A pleural catheter is an alternative to pleurodesis for treatment of a recurrent pleural effusion. Through minor surgery, a plastic catheter is tunneled beneath the skin, with its tip placed inside the chest cavity. As pleural fluid accumulates around the lung, a person can drain the indwelling pleural catheter at home, using special sterile supplies.

Pleurodesis is an interventional pulmonology procedure performed for people with recurring pleural effusions (fluid around the lungs). In pleurodesis, a doctor makes an incision in the chest wall. A plastic tube is inserted into the chest cavity, and an irritating chemical is sprayed around the lung. Over time, the inflamed lung lining (pleura) adheres tightly to the chest wall. This prevents fluid from reaccumulating around the lung.

A doctor cuts small incisions in the chest wall and advances a pleuroscope (a type of endoscope) into the chest cavity. The pleuroscope is advanced around the chest wall and lung on one side. Pleuroscopy can diagnose some conditions of the pleura (lining of the lung). Pleuroscopy also allows a view of the outside edges of the lung, which bronchoscopy cannot provide.

To drain fluid from around the lungs (pleural effusion), a doctor inserts a needle into the chest wall. A plastic catheter is advanced over the needle, which is then removed. The excess pleural fluid is suctioned out of the chest and the catheter is removed and discarded.

In rigid bronchoscopy, a long metal tube (rigid bronchoscope) is advanced into a person’s windpipe and main airways. The rigid bronchoscope’s large diameter allows the doctor to use more sophisticated surgical tools and techniques. Rigid bronchoscopy requires general anesthesia (unconsciousness with assisted breathing), similar to a surgical procedure.

Bronchoscopy is the preferred interventional pulmonology procedure to remove inhaled foreign objects that are lodged in an airway. A doctor may be able to remove the object using flexible bronchoscopy, or rigid bronchoscopy may be required.

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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions Answered

Treatment options for respiratory conditions vary depending on the diagnosis and severity of the condition. They may include: Medications, such as bronchodilators, corticosteroids, antibiotics, or antiviral drugs. Inhaler therapy or nebulizer treatments. Pulmonary rehabilitation programs. Oxygen therapy. Lifestyle modifications, such as smoking cessation, exercise, and dietary changes. Surgical interventions, such as lung resection or lung transplant for severe cases. Management of comorbid conditions that may exacerbate respiratory symptoms, such as obesity or heart disease.

During your initial visit, the Pulmonologist will conduct a comprehensive evaluation, which may include: Reviewing your medical history, including any previous respiratory conditions, surgeries, or treatments. Performing a physical examination focused on your respiratory system. Ordering diagnostic tests, such as pulmonary function tests, chest X-rays, CT scans, or blood tests. Discussing your symptoms, concerns, and any previous treatments or medications. Developing a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific condition and needs.

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