Discover Premier Pulmonary Care Services at Friendswood Community Hospital, Texas.
This blog sheds light on pulmonary medicine and pulmonologists in Friendswood, Texas. It presents a detailed discussion of what a pulmonologist is, what pulmonologists do, and more, as established by providers of expert pulmonary services at Friendswood Community Hospital in Texas.
What is a Pulmonologist?
A pulmonologist is a specialized medical doctor, who is licensed with an MD or DO. Pulmonologists are trained to diagnose, as well as treat medical conditions and diseases which affect various respiratory organs, especially the oropharynx, the larynx, and the lungs. Pulmonologists receive education in a medical school and further hands-on experience through internship and fellowship training which is supposed to equip them with necessary skills for the profession. Although their responsibilities do not allow them to perform surgery on patients, they perform other procedures such as laryngoscopies and bronchoscopies, among others, in hospitals and outpatient departments.
What is the Scope of Pulmonary Care Services?
From their learning and training, pulmonologists offer a range of pulmonary services, encompassing diagnosing and managing disorders affecting the lungs, airways, and other related respiratory organs. At Friendswood Community Hospital, our team of skilled and dedicated pulmonologists address various respiratory conditions, including:
- Asthma
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Cystic fibrosis
- Bronchitis
- Emphysema
- Lung cancer
- Pneumonia
- Sarcoidosis
- Tuberculosis
In addition to the conditions listed above, pulmonary care services may also encompass other conditions, such as sleep apnea and interstitial lung disease, among others. These conditions are established through expert consultation with pulmonologists and other lung specialists like lung doctors and lung surgeons who carry out processes like lung biopsies, sputum culture, bronchoscopy, and pulmonary function tests.
Diagnosis of Lung Conditions by Pulmonologists.
Pulmonologists use a variety of methods to diagnose lung conditions, including:
Laboratory Tests:
- Blood gas analysis: Used to test blood oxygen concentration, carbon dioxide content, and pH.
- Complete blood count (CBC): Screening for anemia and evaluates red BC and white BCs.
- Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP): Evaluates organ functions and searches for an irregularity in chemicals and salt quantities called electrolytes.
- Pleural fluid analysis: Responsible for determining if the fluid that fills the pleural cavity is infected, contains cancer cells, or if there are any other abnormalities.
Procedures:
- Lung function studies: The extent of lung function should be quantified through the determination of the rates of both admission and emission of air.
- Peak flow meter: OV measures the outflow velocity of the expiratory airflow.
- Mediastinoscopy: Involves the implementation of a hollow, flexible structure known as a mediastinoscope which is fitted into the chest via an incision.
- Bronchoscopy and Laryngoscopy: Third, it will be necessary to use scopes to inspect the throat, larynx, and bronchium if there are any abnormalities.
- Lung biopsy: Takes a biopsy of lung tissue for pathological examination.
Imaging Techniques:
- Chest X-ray: Focuses on studying the anatomical and functional changes of the lungs and thoracic cavity.
- CT scan: Allows for high-quality images with more details as compared to the standard X-ray.
- MRI scan: Produces precise images of the lung which has been achieved through the utilization of magnets as well as radio frequencies.
- PET scan: This does help in the identification of lung cancer through the use of a tracer that labels the cells with a high rate of division.
Assessment for Lung Health at Friendswood Community Hospital.
Depending on your condition, our pulmonologists might recommend diagnostic tests such as:
- Body plethysmography
- Low-dose CT scans
- Lung diffusion testing
- Pulmonary function tests
- Sleep studies
Schedule a Consultation and Receive Appropriate Pulmonary Care Services to Get You Back in Health.
At Friendswood Community Hospital, our distinguished board-certified specialists work with each patient individually to give them the best possible results for their cases. If you or your family member is facing any respiratory disease, turn to us and make an appointment. Discover the difference in pulmonary care services at Friendswood Community Hospital. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards better respiratory health.
