If you struggle with breathing difficulties, Ascension's pulmonary medicine doctors and respiratory care team can work to help improve your quality of life.
Our doctors specialize in pulmonary medicine have extensive experience caring for children and adults with lung diseases, breathing problems, such as asthma, and other respiratory related disorders.
Ion Robot-Assisted Bronchoscopy
The Ion robot-assisted bronchoscopy is a minimally-invasive technology that improves accuracy and precision of the biopsy of a potentially cancerous nodule. Thanks to this technology, our Ascension Providence doctors can reliably biopsy nodules through a bronchoscopy as small as 1 centimeter, potentially diagnosing lung cancer earlier. They can also investigate nodules in more hard-to-reach areas that may have previously required CT scan-guided biopsies which can have significant complications.
The Ion is the newest tool the team of clinicians at Ascension Providence can use to diagnose and treat patients with lung cancer. Using this new technology, doctors can create a roadmap to access the lung nodule before they even begin the procedure. Then, a doctor controlling the robot can access the nodule by guiding a catheter to it using the roadmap and a camera. The robotic device remains steady and adjusts with the patient’s breath, which can reduce potential complications.
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Asthma
Ascension Providence provides a breakthrough procedure in the treatment of asthma. Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is a non-drug procedure for severe, persistent asthma in patients 18 years and older when asthma is not well-controlled with inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta agonists. This outpatient procedure delivers precise thermal energy to the airway wall to reduce excessive airway smooth muscle. Bronchial theraoplasty is a minimally invasive bronchoscopic procedure performed in three times, three weeks apart. In many patients, this therapy decreases the ability of the airway to constrict, thereby reducing the frequency of asthma attacks.
At Ascension Providence, our respiratory therapists provides classes in Asthma and management. Learn about the triggers and how to monitor medications and peak flow rate. For more information, call 254-751-4238.
Lung Nodule Clinic
Doctors at the Ascension Providence Lung Clinic deliver advanced care for complex conditions such as lung nodules. Our multi-specialty approach includes chest X-rays or CT scans to detect one or more nodules. If cancer or other diseases in the chest are detected, Ascension has a multi-specialty team approach for your care. We listen to understand your concerns and coordinate a team of doctors specializing in:
- Cancer (medical oncology, radiation oncology and surgery)
- Cardiology
- Pathology
- Radiology
- Vascular surgery
Our lung clinic provides consultation appointments with a pulmonary medicine specialist to review all medical reports and, if appropriate, recommend a biopsy to obtain a tissue sample from the lung. Our doctors have the skill and technology to access nodules deep in the lungs or lymph nodes with great precision and care and avoiding high-risk procedures. Our nurse navigator will coordinate all aspects of your care including appointments, testing and procedures with other members of the care team to ensure that you always know what is happening – and why.
To talk to our nurse navigator, call 254-751-4808.
