An Overview
Interventional Pulmonology is a relatively new subspecialty of Pulmonary Medicine that uses endoscopy and other tools to evaluate and treat a variety of lung conditions. Pulmonologists and cardiothoracic surgeons, after completing their fellowships, can undergo an extra year of training to gain competency in performing these procedures.
Interventional pulmonology procedures are usually safer and have shorter recovery periods compared to surgery. While there are some rare complications with these procedures, our team is experts in the field of interventional pulmonology. These are some common procedures that may be performed :
FLEXIBLE BRONCHOSCOPY
It is one of the most common procedures, where the doctor puts a flexible endoscope (bronchoscope) through the patient’s mouth or nose into the lungs. The images are then displayed on the video screen.
With an ultrasound probe attached at the end of the bronchoscope, it allows the doctor to biopsy the lymph nodes with great accuracy, improving the diagnosis significantly. The advanced electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy allows the doctor to reach difficult areas for precision biopsy.
BIOPSY OF LUNG OR LYMPH NODE
The interventionist can advance a needle or forceps through a bronchoscope to extract a small piece of lung tissue to biopsy it. This procedure is highly effective in precision diagnostics and minimizes the need for invasive biopsy procedures.
BRONCHIAL STENT
A cancer or an invasive lung condition can cause constriction of the airways causing symptoms of coughing and difficulty breathing which can lead to pneumonia. With this procedure, the doctor advances a fine mesh through the bronchoscope to open the airway thus relieving the symptoms.
PLEUROSCOPY
Thoracentesis is a procedure performed to treat pleural effusion, a very painful condition in which fluid gets collected around the lungs The doctor inserts a needle through the incision in the chest wall to drain the excess fluid.
BRONCHOSCOPIC THERMOPLASTY
This procedure is done to manage severe asthma symptoms which cannot be controlled via medications and inhalers. Here the doctor inserts a heat probe via the bronchoscope to destroy the smooth muscle fibers whose constriction contributes to the patient’s symptoms.
The advancement in medical technology has led to these state-of-the-art interventions, which are extremely low risk.
Our pulmonology specialists at Pulmonary Associates of Richmond provide comprehensive and compassionate pulmonary care to provide diagnosis and treatment for your lung disease. Pulmonary Associates of Richmond is here to help with all lung conditions. Contact us online or by phone at (804) 320-4243