Interventional Pulmonology
Mercy offers a growing number of services known as “interventional pulmonology.” These minimally invasive services allow us to diagnose and treat lung disease more quickly and safely than ever before. Your Mercy care team consists of experienced pulmonologists and a highly trained endoscopy staff.
Key benefits of interventional pulmonology services include:
- They're newer and minimally invasive.
- Same-day procedures require less down time.
- They're performed in an outpatient setting.
Most interventional pulmonology procedures are performed with thin, hollow tubes (endoscopes). The tubes let your doctor see inside your chest, take tissue or fluid samples (biopsies), and perform treatments—without the risks of surgery.
Interventional pulmonology is an exciting new field within the specialty of pulmonary medicine. It uses minimally invasive techniques to detect and care for chest and lung problems.
Interventional Pulmonology Procedures
Mercy pulmonologists offer some of the most advanced interventional pulmonology services available, including:
- Bronchoscopy lets your doctor see inside your airway and lungs. We offer flexible, rigid and electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy.
- Electromagnetic navigational or "Super D" bronchoscopy allows us to biopsy a nodule as small as a pea. Across Mercy, we perform a high volume of these procedures and are among the top hospitals nationally for the volume of procedures we perform.
- Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) combines bronchoscopy with ultrasound imaging. It helps to safely evaluate chest lymph nodes by providing a biopsy of enlarged lymph nodes under direct visualization.
- Pleuroscopy lets your doctor examine your pleural cavity (the space between your chest wall and lungs).
- Thoracentesis removes excess fluid from the pleural cavity.
- Pleurodesis treats persistent pleural effusion. Your doctor will place a special device in your chest, so you can drain excess fluid in the comfort of your home.
- Bronchoscopic thermoplasty is a newer treatment for adults with severe asthma. It combines bronchoscopy with radiofrequency energy (heat). It reduces the amount of smooth muscle along your airway walls. In studies, this treatment has shown to improve quality of life and decrease both ER visits and the need for medication.
- Endobronchial laser therapy combines bronchoscopy and laser therapy. It helps treat lung cancer, abnormal tissue growth or bleeding inside the airway.
- Endobronchial stenting, or airway stenting, opens your narrowed trachea or bronchial tube. Your doctor will place a hollow device (stent) inside the constricted part of your airway. The stent will temporarily or permanently prop it open.
