Pulmonary care

Our team of pulmonary care experts manage and treat various conditions, including:

• Asthma
• Bronchiectasis
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Emphysema
• Interstitial Lung Disease
• Lung Cancer
• Lung Disease
• Lung Nodules

• Airway Obstruction Management
• Burn Care
• Central Venous Access procedures
• Chest Tube insertion
• Foreign Body Removal
• Spiration Valve placement

Pulmonologists are specially trained in diseases and conditions of the chest and lungs, such as chronic coughs, pneumonia, complicated chest infections or end stage lung disease requiring state-of-the-art medical care or lifesaving lung support. Many acute respiratory conditions can be treated by an internist or primary care physician. An appointment with a pulmonologist is only necessary for complex pulmonology conditions.

Whether you need a screening or have a diagnosed condition and need treatment, the knowledgeable and highly trained physicians at the Methodist Heart and Lung Institute Lung Center offer the most advanced diagnostic care and services for the treatment of lung disease and lung cancer. Our expert provider and physician teams focus primarily on the treatment of lung cancer, pulmonary hypertension and interstitial lung disease. Specialists at the Lung Center also manage abnormal computed tomography (CT) scans and minimize diagnosis time, offering early detection and treatment options that may not otherwise be available.

Our comprehensive lung nodule program enables us to detect incidental lung nodules earlier, diagnose lung cancer at an earlier stage, and ultimately, save lives.

The services provided through the Lung Center include:

• Chest X-rays
• CT scans
• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
• Medical thoracoscopy
• Navigational bronchoscopy
  • Bronchoscopy (Lung biopsy and endobronchial ultrasound)
  • Therapeutic bronchoscopy
  • Robotic bronchoscopy

To contact the Methodist Heart Institute Lung Center, call (210) 575-LUNG [5864].

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, is a form of advanced life support for patients with severe respiratory failure. Blood is pumped out of the body, oxygenated and then returned to the body. Veno venous (VV) ECMO, can be considered for any patient with severe respiratory failure and a potentially reversible cause (pneumonia, aspiration or volume overload) who meets the following criteria:

• Hypoxemic respiratory failure
• Respiratory acidosis with pH less than 7.20 despite optimal ventilator management
• Initiation of acute respiratory distress (ARDS) rescue therapies (PEEP) greater than 15, prone positioning, inhaled nitric oxide, neuromuscular blockade)
• Respiratory failure with significant barotrauma (bronchopleural fistula, pneumothorax, subcutaneous emphysema, etc.)

The Centers for Sleep at Methodist Hospital, Methodist Hospital Texsan, Methodist Hospital Metropolitan and Methodist Hospital Northeast evaluate various sleep disorders related to cardiovascular disease and conditions involving the lungs. Participating in a sleep study is important in identifying the proper treatment plan for a pulmonary condition.

The Methodist Heart and Lung Institute Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Center offers a pulmonary rehabilitation program designed to assist each patient to attain optimal physical, psychological, social and vocational well-being. Emphasis is placed on incorporating long-term lifestyle changes to help protect and preserve pulmonary function and maintain overall health.

For more information about our pulmonary rehabilitation services, please call (210) 575-8235.

Are you ready to be a non-smoker? Our Quit Smoking Program offers resources to help patients stop smoking and establish a healthier lifestyle.

The Quit Smoking Program includes:

• A one-on-one interview with a medical professional who has advanced knowledge of tobacco cessation counseling
• Patient enrollment in Quit Now, a state-funded program with 24/7 coaching available
• Evidence-based patient education handouts and videos
• Coordination with the patient’s primary provider to initiate adjunct tobacco cessation therapies

For dates and times of the Quit Smoking Program, please call (210) 575-8235.