Department Of Pulmonology

PULMONOLOGY

Pulmonology is a branch of internal medicine that involves managing patients who need life support and mechanical ventilation. Pulmonologists are specially trained in diseases and conditions of the chest, particularly pneumonia, asthma, tuberculosis, emphysema, and complicated chest infections. It is otherwise known as respirology, respiratory medicine, or chest medicine. Pulmonology is nearly associated with critical care medicine while engaging with patients who need artificial ventilation. As a result, many pulmonologists need to get certified to practice critical care medicine in addition to pulmonary medicine.

A wide range of clinical procedures for pulmonary tests includes arterial blood gas tests, Spirometry which is a part of Pulmonary function tests, bronchoscopy, X-rays, CT scans, and Positron Emission Tomography. Surgical procedures involve the heart and lungs and thus require a thoracic pulmonologist.

Medication is the most important treatment for most diseases of pulmonology, either by inhalation (bronchodilators and steroids) or in oral form (antibiotics, leukotriene antagonists). A common example is the usage of inhalers in the treatment of inflammatory lung conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Oxygen therapy is often necessary for severe respiratory disease (emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis). When this is insufficient, the patient might require mechanical ventilation.

Pulmonary rehabilitation has been defined as a multidimensional continuum of services directed to persons with pulmonary disease and their families, usually by an interdisciplinary team of specialists, to achieve and maintain the individual's maximum level of independence and functioning in the community. Pulmonary rehabilitation is intended to educate the patient, and the family, and improve the overall quality of life and prognosis of the patient.

Diagnosis

The diagnostic process begins with a general view of a pulmonologist check-up. Doctors check for:

• Hereditary diseases affecting lungs.
• Exposure to toxicants.
• Exposure to infectious agents.
• Any autoimmune conditions (pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension)
• Physical diagnosis might include:

• Inspection of the hands for signs of cyanosis
• Palpation of the cervical lymph nodes
• Percussion of the lung fields
• Auscultation (with a stethoscope) of the lung for unusual breath sounds.
• Rales or rhonchi over lung fields with a stethoscope.

Clinical procedures include:

• Medical laboratory investigation of blood (blood tests).
• Spirometry for the determination of maximum airflow at a given lung
• Pulmonary function testing including spirometry
• Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)
• Chest X-rays:

• CT scan
• Positron emission tomography
• Polysomnography

Surgical procedures include:

The heart and lungs are the main areas where a thoracic surgeon operates. Pulmonologists usually perform these procedures to get samples from the inside of the chest or inside of the lung.

As directed by the pulmonologist, after the accurate diagnostic processes, the best course of treatment would begin. If the treatment doesn’t yield the expected outcomes, the surgeon might ask you to go for surgical procedures.