Breathe Better
We take breathing for granted, inhaling and exhaling without thinking about it. But simply drawing in a full breath can be a refreshing experience for someone with a pulmonary disorder.
Virtua Health’s pulmonary medicine specialists focus on ailments of the respiratory system, many of which are caused by smoking. Our pulmonologists use diagnostic procedures such as biopsies, X-rays, CT scans, and sleep studies to create individualized plans to treat your condition, including:
- Pneumonia
- COPD (chronic bronchitis and emphysema)
- Asthma and allergies
- Lung cancer
- Lung disease
- Sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea
If necessary, our interventional pulmonologists may use endoscopy and minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat lung cancer, airway, and pleural diseases (conditions affecting the tissue that covers the outside of your lungs). These advanced treatments include:
- Argon plasma coagulation (APC): Removes or destroys airway tumors or other tissue changes and controls bleeding
- Bronchial blockers: Achieves lung separation and single-lung breathing
- Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction (BLVR): Uses small valves to redirect airflow in the lungs and treat severe emphysema
- Cryotherapy: Freezes tumors that cannot be removed by surgery
- Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) – linear and radial: A test to diagnose lung cancer, infections, and inflammation
- Indwelling tunneled pleural catheters: Reduces shortness of breath caused by fluid that accumulated around the lungs due to cancer
- Laser therapy: Shrinks or destroys tumors with heat
- Percutaneous tracheostomy: A surgically created airway
- Pleuroscopy: Diagnoses and treats fluid around the lungs
- Pleurodesis: Relieves buildup of fluid around the lungs
- Robotic bronchoscopy: Allows the biopsy of difficult-to-access nodules in the lungs
- Snare cauterization: Heats, cuts, and controls bleeding of tissue
- Trachael and bronchial airway stents: Tubes placed in airways improve breathing
- Trachael and bronchial balloon dilatations: Expands narrowed airways and restores adequate airflow
- Transbronchial biopsy: A minimally invasive method to obtain lung tissue samples for diagnosis
Helping You Get a Better Night’s Sleep
If you have a pulmonary disease-related sleep disorder such as sleep apnea, Virtua’s Sleep Centers provide state-of-the-art testing facilities. Our specialists perform sleep studies that assess heart rate, brain waves, breathing, oxygen levels, and more. This allows Virtua specialists to provide comprehensive consultation, testing, and treatment of identified sleep problems.
Call 888-VIRTUA-3 (888-847-8823) for more information on Virtua's pulmonary services.
