Your lungs are an important part of your overall health. A chronic cough or shortness of breath can impact your daily life and keep you from the activities you enjoy. Pulmonologists and respiratory care teams at Ascension Illinois provide diagnostic tests and treatments for conditions that affect your lungs and airways.
Using our dedicated pulmonary function lab, we are able to quickly diagnose even the most complex respiratory conditions. When you choose Ascension Illinois for your care, you will have a care team of pulmonologists, respiratory therapists, sleep medicine specialists, hospitalists, and more. Each appointment starts with a conversation with you and your doctor. Ask us your questions – big and small. Together, we discuss your diagnosis, therapeutic treatment options and ongoing care. Then, we create a care plan that’s right for you.
CALL — 855-910-0155
Diagnosis and treatment for respiratory conditions
Our goal is to help you breathe comfortably. Pulmonology medicine specialists at Ascension Illinois deliver personalized care for lung and airway conditions, including:
- Allergies
- Asbestosis (long-term exposure to asbestos)
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Chronic respiratory failure
- Collapsed lung
- Congenital malformations in the lungs and airway
- Cystic fibrosis
- Emphysema
- Interstitial lung disease
- Lung cancer
- Lung infection, including pneumonia
- Rheumatoid lung disease
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Sleep disorders
Advanced lung care with minimally invasive tests and treatments
Symptoms of a lung condition include chronic cough or coughing up blood, noisy breathing, shortness of breath, tightness in your chest, tiredness or chest pain that lasts longer than a month. If you are experiencing symptoms of a respiratory condition, talk with a pulmonologist.
The pulmonology care team at Ascension Illinois includes interventional pulmonologists, who specialize in nonsurgical, minimally invasive procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of lung and airway diseases.
Pulmonary medicine care teams provide advanced diagnostic tests including:
Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) - The procedure uses mild heat to reduce the amount of excess smooth muscle tissue in the airway. Less muscle tissue reduces airway constriction during an asthma attack, making it easier to breathe. Fewer attacks also minimizes the need for oral steroid treatment.
Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) - A minimally invasive procedure used to treat patients with severe emphysema. A doctor places a Zephyr ® one-way valve into the affected part of the lung. Trapped air and fluid flows out of the valve, but can not flow in. Airflow is redirected to the healthy part of the lung where it can expand and help you breathe easier.
Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy - Using an Ion™ robotic-assisted bronchoscope, your doctor can collect tissue samples from your lung, a nodule or lung mass. This technology helps your doctor move the bronchoscopy tube with precision using a controller. Your doctor pushes the small tube through the airways to hard-to-reach nodules in the lung. A bronchoscopy can help improve the early detection of lung cancer.
Specialized care to help manage your asthma
At Ascension Illinois, we offer allergy and respiratory tests to diagnose asthma. Your doctors and respiratory therapists work with you to create a personalized asthma management plan that is right for you and your type of asthma:
- Allergic asthma triggered from pollen, mold or other allergens
- Aspirin-induced asthma caused by aspirin sensitivity
- Asthma without allergies worsens with a respiratory infection
- Exercise-induced asthma set off by physical exertion
- Occupational asthma from inhaled smoke or toxins
Your doctor provides many treatment options including inhalers and oral medications to help prevent asthma attacks and manage symptoms.
Interventional pulmonology program
Interventional pulmonologists deliver advanced diagnostic and therapeutic care for lung conditions. Pioneers in interventional pulmonology, Ascension Illinois was one of the first health systems in the country to provide comprehensive interventional pulmonology services. These specialists provide minimally invasive procedures such as:
- Airway stents
- Argon plasma coagulation and electrocautery (to treat lesions and tumors)
- Bronchoplasty (balloon)
- Bronchoscopy (procedure used to look inside lungs)
- Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction with Zephyr ® valves
- Bronchial thermoplasty
- ERBE™ cryoablation and cryobiopsy
- Endobronchial ultrasound
- Foreign body removal
- Lymph node biopsy
- Open lung biopsy
- Photodynamic therapy
- Pleural catheter
- Pleural needle biopsy
- Pleurodesis (lung surgery/removal)
- Pleuroscopy (procedure used to explore the pleural space)
- Rigid bronchoscopy
- Ion™ robotic assisted bronchoscopy
- Thoracentesis (removes fluid from lungs)
- Laser bronchoscopy
- Whole lung lavage
Specialized care for pulmonary hypertension
Choose a care team that’s experienced in caring for pulmonary hypertension and lung disease. Pulmonary hypertension is a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in your lungs and heart. Symptoms often include difficulty breathing, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, and swelling in the legs or abdomen. Pulmonologists at Ascension Illinois specialize in diagnosing and treating pulmonary hypertension. By knowing you and your condition well, we create a care plan that’s right for you.
When you choose us for your care, you also have access to clinical trials and innovative therapies. If you are interested in participating in a clinical trial, call 224-273-2387 or browse our current clinical trials.
Get a second opinion from a pulmonologist
Get the confidence and peace of mind that your doctor and care plan are right for you. It's easy to get a second opinion at Ascension Illinois. We can review your medical records and healthcare history to answer your questions and discuss options. Talk with one of our doctors about a personalized care plan.
When you are facing a new diagnosis or experiencing ongoing symptoms, there’s a lot to think about. We can discuss both therapeutic and surgical treatment plans. Our team of highly experienced pulmonologists can provide you with a second opinion, based on experience and as part of a national care team.
Before your appointment, check with your insurance company to find out if a second opinion is covered. We can request your medical records from your doctor on your behalf, so that they can be shared with your care team before your arrival.
Refer a patient to a specialist
Your patients and their families can expect compassionate, personalized care from the moment our specialists connect with them. Our specialists start by listening to fully understand their needs and develop an individualized care plan.
FIND A SPECIALIST
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go to the nearest ER or call 911.
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