Pulmonology

At a glance

Sub-specialties

airway disease (asthma and COPD), interstitial lung disease, sleep-disordered breathing, thoracic oncology, interventional bronchoscopy, pleural disease

Common tests and procedures

lung function tests, chest imaging, bronchoscopy and endobronchial ultrasound, sleep study, allergy testing, pleural drainage

Common reasons to travel

experienced chest teams, modern lung function and imaging, interventional bronchoscopy and sleep studies under one roof

Typical visit or stay

mostly outpatient over a few days, an overnight sleep study or a short admission for a bronchoscopy when a biopsy is needed

Sedation

none for most breathing tests, light sedation for bronchoscopy, an overnight stay for a sleep study

Typical first step

a consultation with breathing tests and a chest scan, then a focused plan to confirm the diagnosis and start treatment