Pulmonology

Our pulmonary medicine specialists use the latest, evidence-based treatment methods to identify and treat every type of lung condition. This way, you can take a deep breath, knowing you're in good hands.

Our Approach to Pulmonology

Your breath is the very essence of life. Your lungs work hard every day to deliver oxygen to every cell in your body. When your breathing is affected by an illness or disease, pulmonary medicine specialists can help you breathe easier and keep your respiratory system as healthy as possible.

Here's what you can expect by connecting with our team: 

• You're the most important person on your care team: If you're struggling to breathe, it affects all aspects of your life. In addition to evaluating your symptoms, we want to understand your goals and lifestyle so we can determine what treatment would work best to help you achieve the best quality of life. Our pulmonologists may order diagnostic procedures such as biopsies, X-rays, CT scans, and sleep studies to diagnose your condition.
• A team approach: While your care starts with a pulmonary medicine specialist, we may involve other experts to ensure you receive the most thorough care. This can include radiologists, cardiologists, interventional pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons, or cardiopulmonary rehabilitation specialists. 
• Advanced minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment: When needed, our pulmonary specialists may refer you to interventional pulmonologists who can provide robotic-assisted and minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment for advanced airway or respiratory disease, including lung cancer. Our board-certified and fellowship-trained interventional pulmonologists also use these advanced techniques to treat symptoms like shortness of breath, airway obstructions, and fluid around the lungs to ease your breathing. 
• COVID-19 experts: At Virtua, we've treated more COVID patients than any other health system in South Jersey. Through our Care After COVID program, we can offer relief from lingering breathing issues caused by long COVID.

Pulmonology Conditions We Treat

When you've been diagnosed with a lung condition, it can significantly impact your physical and emotional well-being. Our team can effectively treat every type of lung condition, including:

• Pneumonia
• COPD (chronic bronchitis and emphysema)
• Asthma and allergies
• Lung cancer
• Lung disease
• Sleep disorders
• Chronic cough
• Cystic fibrosis
• Dyspnea, or trouble breathing
• Mesothelioma
• Pulmonary embolism
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Sarcoidosis

Pulmonology Tests and Treatments

• Argon plasma coagulation (APC): Removes airway tumors
• Bronchial blockers: Achieves lung separation
• Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction (BLVR): Treats severe emphysema
• Cryotherapy: Freezes tumors that cannot be removed by surgery
• Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) – linear and radial: Diagnoses lung cancer and infections
• Indwelling tunneled pleural catheters: Reduces shortness of breath due to cancer 
• Laser therapy: Shrinks or destroys tumors
• Percutaneous tracheostomy: A surgically created airway
• Pleuroscopy: Diagnoses and treats fluid around the lungs
• Pleurodesis: Relieves buildup of fluid around the lungs
• Robotic bronchoscopy: Used to biopsy difficult-to-access nodules
• Snare cauterization: Heats, cuts, and controls bleeding of tissue
• Thoracic surgery: Treats lung, esophagus, or chest disease
• 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: Minimally invasive method to obtain lung tissue samples for diagnosis