Interventional Pulmonology
Minimally invasive, advanced diagnosis and treatment techniques for lung conditions
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Interventional Pulmonology Treatments
When you need treatment for a lung condition, advanced interventional pulmonology techniques give you specialized care.
Doctors at Lahey Clinic pioneered the use of interventional methods to diagnose and manage critical care conditions and lung and respiratory disorders. You get care from a team recognized internationally for their expertise.
What is Interventional Pulmonology?
Interventional pulmonology describes specialized, minimally invasive lung procedures. Your doctor uses an endoscope and advanced imaging to view your airways, chest cavity, lung tissues and pleura (lining of the lungs).
During a procedure, your doctor can use advanced tools attached to the endoscope to provide treatment.
Interventional pulmonology is an alternative care option to open thoracic surgery.
Benefits of Interventional Pulmonology
Interventional pulmonology techniques can give you safer care and a faster recovery.
Other benefits include:
- Immediate relief from breathing obstructions
- Less risk of infection
- No surgical incisions
- Outpatient or short stay
Conditions We Treat
At Lahey, you can receive interventional pulmonary treatment for a wide range of conditions.
- Airway disorders
- Airway obstructions (bronchial or tracheal stenosis)
- Coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
- Foreign bodies
- Fluid around the lungs (plural effusions)
- Lung cancer
- Lung cancer staging
- Pleural disease
Available Procedures
There are many types of interventional pulmonology procedures. Your lung care team includes experts in these techniques. You and your doctor will discuss the right procedure for you.
At Lahey we are especially known for advanced bronchoscopy techniques. Bronchoscopy uses a thin, flexible or rigid tube with a camera to examine and treat your airways, lungs and trachea. We perform:
Autofluorescence Bronchoscopy
A diagnostic technique used to evaluate your central airways. This procedure detects cancerous changes not seen with conventional bronchoscopy.
Laser Bronchoscopy
Your doctor uses laser energy during a bronchoscopy to remove abnormal tissue.
Navigational Bronchoscopy
Your doctor uses imaging to create a GPS-like map to guide an endoscope to a treatment area during bronchoscopy.
Rigid Bronchoscopy
Your doctor uses radiation or laser therapy during a bronchoscopy to diagnose and treat lung cancer.
You get access to a wide range of diagnostic and treatment options. Depending on your lung condition, your doctor may recommend one of the following techniques:
Airway Stent Placement
Placing a small tube in the airway to help keep it open.
Catheter Placement
Placing a small tube in the space between the membranes (pleura) that line the lungs and chest cavity.
Percutaneous Tracheostomy
Creating an airway through an incision in the neck.
Cryotherapy
Destroying or removing abnormal tissue with extreme cold.
Electrocautery
Destroying or removing abnormal tissue with a heated probe.
Thoracoscopy
Examining and treating abnormalities in the chest cavity through small incisions in the chest.
Pulmonary Artery Stent Placement
Placing a small tube in the lung artery to open it up and help blood flow better.
Lung Tumor Biopsy
Also called a endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration, removing a sample of tissue from the lung.
Thermoplasty
Shrinking excess airway muscle with heat from radiofrequency energy.
Photodynamic Therapy
Using a light-activated medicine to destroy abnormal cells.
Endobronchial Valves for Broncho-Pleural Fistula
Placing a valve to seal a hole between the bronchia and pleural cavity.
Medical Pleuroscopy
Viewing the space between the lungs and chest wall.
