DIAGNOSTIC METHODS & THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUES
Expert & compassionate care for your lung health
RESPIRATORY & PULMONARY CARE
Diagnostic methods and therapeutic strategies for lung cancer have improved in thanks to the advancing technology and the acquisition of the necessary skills by bronchoscopists to fully use these advanced techniques. The diagnostic methods yield for lung cancer has significantly increased with the advent of technologies such as endobronchial ultrasound, navigational systems, and improved imaging modalities. Similarly, the therapeutic benefit of bronchoscopy in advanced lung cancer has begun to be understood for its impact on quality and quantity of life.
When your respiratory system is healthy, you barely give it a thought – but if you’re not breathing normally, it’s hard to function well during the day or get restful sleep at night. Whatever the nature of your pulmonary issues, we take the time to ensure you and your family are well informed and fully educated on managing your pulmonary health.
ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC METHODS
Lung Health Services is an interventional pulmonology practice that uses minimally invasive technologies to diagnose and treat patients with lung cancer and other thoracic conditions. The majority of these procedures are able to be completed in an an ambulatory setting.
Our expert team of lung specialists work collaboratively with your primary care team, as well as your oncologists, surgeons, radiologists and other medical practitioners to provide you with the fully integrated, comprehensive care you deserve.
EBUS
An EBUS (endobronchial ultrasound) Bronchoscopy is a minimally invasive advanced procedure that is highly effective in diagnosing lung cancer, lung infections and other lung conditions causing enlarged lymph nodes in the chest area. The EBUS procedure allows the interventional pulmonologist to obtain tissue and fluid samples without performing a more invasive surgery.
How EBUS Works
This procedure is performed under moderate sedation or general anesthesia and you can go home the same day. Dr. Nina Maouelainin, your interventional pulmonologist will guide the small, thin tube through your mouth and into your airway. The EBUS bronchoscopy is equipped with a video camera and an ultrasound probe to capture images of the airways, blood vessels, lungs and lymph nodes in real-time. Having the capability to sample tissue easily and quickly with the EBUS bronchoscopy enables an onsite pathologist to evaluate biopsy samples in the operating room ultimately leading to an expedited diagnosis.
Navigational Bronchoscopy
A navigational bronchoscopy procedure aims to treat lesions in areas of the lung that are generally unreachable using a standard bronchoscope. It specifically targets the smaller airway parts known to be hard-to-reach areas to biopsy and guide radiation markers for future treatment. The navigational bronchoscopy uses the 3D images from a CT Scan to create a map of the airways. The advanced navigational bronchoscopy is effective in providing an early diagnosis of lung cancer as well as preventing the need for an open surgery, which has a greater recovery time.
How Navigational Bronchoscopy Works
Most of the time a navigational bronchoscopy is performed under moderate sedation or general anesthesia so you will be comfortable during the procedure. The bronchoscope tube will be inserted through your mouth and into the lungs. Special tools will be passed through the bronchoscope that will help your doctor navigate the airways in your lungs. Samples of tissue can be taken through needle aspirations and markers can be placed for future treatment. Once the procedure is complete, you will be able to go home the same day.
General Bronchoscopy
Bronchoscopy allows us to look your airways and lungs. We use a long, flexible instrument attached to a camera, called a bronchoscope, to capture images the provider looks at on a monitor. The bronchoscope is inserted through your mouth or nose. The provider will visually look at your airways and collect samples, or biopsies, if needed.
WHAT TO EXPECT
An intravenous line (IV) will be placed in your arm to deliver anesthesia and any medication needed during the procedure. Monitors will be
placed on you to continually check your blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen level during the procedure. Oxygen will be delivered throughout the bronchoscopy. This test can be performed for various reasons such as recurrent infections, abnormal findings seen on a CT scan such as lung nodules, to evaluate airway blockage, or to evaluate hemoptysis. A chest x-ray or CT scan of the chest are frequently done prior to a bronchoscopy and help determine when a biopsy of lung tissue or inspection of the airways is needed for a diagnosis.
THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUES
Therapeutic flexible or rigid bronchoscopies are state-of-the-art techniques that allow to:
- Control bleeding in the airway
- Suction excess fluid or mucus from the airway
- Therapeutically remove foreign bodies from the airway, such as tumors, aspirated food.
- Resecting and treating growths or tumors in the airway using radiation laser, cryotherapy
- Place airway stents
‘Balloon Dilation’ via Bronchoscopy
Bronchoscopy is a sophisticated, pulmonary technology that uses a flexible tube with a camera at the end allowing the visualization of the inside of the lungs and airways. When stenosis occurs, we will use the bronschope to insert a deflated, medical balloon into the affected airway. Once inside, we will carefully inflate the balloon, stretching open the airway. Dr. Nina Maouelainin can then further inspect and treat the area, removing cancerous tumors or repairing damaged tissue.
Symptoms of Stenosis
Some stenosis cases are mild with little to no symptoms, while others are much more severe. Many individuals with stenosis first notice symptoms while exercising or performing an aerobic activity. Key symptoms to look out for include:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Fainting
- Heart Murmur
- Many cases of stenosis are caused by a birth defect. However, cancerous tumors and tissue scarring can also lead to constriction of the airways.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and suspect that you have constricted airways, it is important that you contact Lung Health Services as soon as possible. Call us at 267-500-5027 to schedule an appointment at our Lansdale, PA office. If you do not live in the Philadelphia area, or would rather not have an in-person consultation, schedule a telemedicine appointment.
Airway Stenting
An airway stent is a tiny, hollow tube made of silicone or metal that is inserted into the airways. Airway stents can be inserted either before or after therapeutic treatment in the lungs. Before performing therapeutic treatment, Dr. Nina Maouelainin may insert an airway stent in order to properly see and treat the lungs, removing foreign bodies in the airways or repairing damaged tissue. Following a lung procedure, Lung Health Services may insert an airway stent to ensure that the patient has sufficient airflow to prevent further airway obstruction.
Airway stents are inserted using a bronchoscope, a flexible tube with camera at the end allowing the visualization of the inside of the lungs and airways. Stents vary in size, and can be placed either in the trachea or the bronchial tubes, depending on the affected area. Airway stents can either be temporary (used specifically for a therapeutic procedure) or permanent (used for prolonged opening of the airways), depending on the patient and their needs.
What to Expect
At Lung Health Services, we pride ourselves on providing expert and efficient care to our patients. If airway stenting is required, we can insert the stents from our Lansdale, PA office, and patients usually are discharged same-day. While patients may feel some throat irritation and soreness for a few days following their procedure, airway stents— temporary or permanent— allow proper airflow and improve overall lung health.
Contact Us Today
If you are experiencing chest pain, difficulty breathing, fainting, or chronic fatigue, contact Lung Health Services as soon as possible. Dr. Nina Maouelainin will swiftly diagnose your lung issues and determine whether an airway stent is required. Please call 267-500-5027 to schedule a consultation at our Lansdale, PA office. If you do not live in the Philadelphia area, or would rather have a virtual consultation, you can request a telemedicine consultation.
Tumor Resection & Destruction
Tumor resection is the process of surgically removing cancerous tumors and tissues in the lungs. On the other hand, tumor destruction is the process of destroying cancerous tumors and tissues within the lungs without extraction. At Lung Health Services, we offer a variety of both tumor destruction and resection treatment options to ensure cancerous tumors are eliminated as effectively and safely as possible, with little chance of tumor resurgence or regrowth.
Tumor Destruction
Tumor destruction is ideal for patients who are not eligible for tumor resection. This method uses bronchoscopy, a sophisticated technology that uses a flexible tube with a camera at the end allowing the visualization of the inside of the lungs and airways. At Lung Health Services, we offer advanced, effective tumor destruction treatments including:
- Cryotherapy: applying a cold probe to the affected area
- Nd-YAG laser: deep tissue penetration to burn tumors
- Argon plasma coagulation (APC): use of argon and an electrical current to kill cancerous cells without disturbing the tumor. This method is particularly helpful for patients with bleeding tumors.
Tumor Resection
Unlike tumor destruction, tumor resection involved the physical and surgical removal of tumors and surrounding tissue. The type of tumor resection procedure required depends on the cancer type, stage of severity, and location within the lungs. Common types of tumor resection surgery include:
- Lobectomy: removal of the lobe in the lung that constrain cancerous tumors
- Segmentectomy: removal of segments within lung lobes that contain cancerous tumors
- Wedge Resection: removal of the wedge-shaped tissue surrounding the cancerous tumor
- Pneumonectomy: in extreme cases, this is the process of removing an entire lung that is affected by cancer
If you have been recently diagnosed with lung cancer or a lung condition that needs treatment, call Lung Health Services today at 267-500-5027. Our mission is to expedite patient care with the goal of diagnosing and treating patients earlier for improved health outcomes.