Department Of Pulmonology

The Department of Pulmonology at CMRI is dedicated to providing the most advanced clinical evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment services to patients suffering from a vast spectrum of lung diseases and ailments. The Department provides state-of-art medical services for conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, critical care and infectious diseases. 
The department brings together a team of highly skilled professionals with years of expertise in the field of respiratory medicine and advanced pulmonary care. The team is backed by leading-edge innovations and best-in-class modalities.

Pulmonology Services Offered 

State-of-the-art pulmonary facilities
Patient services: Daily OPDs and specialized clinics, that include asthma clinics, sleep clinics, Infectious clinics, and Smoking Cessation clinics are held periodically.

Infectious diseases clinics: Specialized infectious disease clinics are conducted to provide expert care to patients suffering from various tropical diseases like malaria, typhoid, dengue, fever, influenza, tuberculosis, retroviral disease, and other viral illnesses. The team works in coordination with one hospital infection control committee and microbiologist to formulate customized antibiotic protocols and advise vaccination for adults as per individual requirements.

Bronchoscopy Suite: Bronchoscopy and thoracoscopy are performed with a video scope under appropriate monitoring facilities. Bronchoscopy is a technique of examining the airways for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. All precautions are taken to ensure the safety and comfort of the patient. The department also is equipped with end bronchial ultrasound (EBUS), which helps in improving their diagnostic capabilities for diseases localized beyond the airways.

 Bronchoscopy: This is performed using a world-class video bronchoscopy, which is much superior to flexible bronchoscopy. It provides sharp, magnified images and captures minute details. It allows multiple images to be examined together and video recordings to be performed which can be shared with patients.

Medical Thoracoscopy: This procedure is conducted to visualize the pleural space (the space between the lungs and the chest wall). It helps in the evaluation of fluid (pleural effusion) or air collection (Pneumothorax) in this space and provides a diagnosis instantly in most cases. Its diagnostic accuracy approaches 100% and allows biopsies to be taken under direct vision. It allows instant drainage at the fluid/ air and provides immediate relief to the patient.

Sleep Lab: With increasing obesity and a sedentary lifestyle, sleep disorders are becoming a common problem. Amongst various types of sleep disorders, the most common is obstructive sleep apnoea which usually coexists with hypertension, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, stroke, and diabetes. Usually, the patients complain of loud snoring, noisy breathing during sleep, choking sensation during sleep, frequent waking up in the night, morning headaches, and excessive daytime sleepiness.
The Pulmonology team is specially trained in managing such patients. Overnight sleep studies and multiple sleep latency and wakefulness tests are performed in the state-of-the-art sleep lab. The department also boasts of a portable sleep lab system. We have highly trained and experienced sleep Technologists, who have received specialized training in the file of Sleep disorders.

 PFT Lab: Advanced Pulmonology Function Tests like diffusion studies and exercises tolerance tests can be efficiently performed at our PFT lab.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation: The division runs a modern Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program for chronic and disabling respiratory illnesses like advanced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Interstitial Lung Disease. Patients are taught respiratory muscle exercise, Chest physiotherapy and breathing techniques. Patients are also subjected to a thorough nutritional assessment and advised accordingly.

Intensive Care Unit: An 11 bedded state-of-the-art ICU Is an integral part of the department that provides advanced world-class care to critically ill patients. It is fully equipped with modern ventilators and advanced monitoring facilities.
It is manned by some of the most skilled and dedicated nursing staff, with fully trained doctors available round-the-clock. Personalized care with a human touch is provided to all patients.

DNB program: It is one of few centers amongst the various private hospitals to be successfully running a DNB program for postgraduate students.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a disease of the airways in the lungs. Its symptoms are caused by inflammation, which makes the airways red, swollen, narrower, and extra sensitive to irritants. This leads to recurrent attacks of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing. Mild attacks can settle down without treatment, but treatment usually helps them to resolve more quickly. Appropriate treatment can also reduce the risk of further attacks. If you experience a serious attack you should seek emergency help. 
Asthma is a long term (chronic) disease. It does not stay the same, but changes over time, and every person with asthma has good and bad days (or longer periods of time).

What causes Asthma?

The causes of asthma are not fully understood. Asthma is probably usually caused by a mixture of hereditary factors (those you are born with) and environmental factors, but how these factors work together is still largely unknown.
Allergens from house dust mites and pets are the most common causes, but many other allergens, such as pollen and moulds, can cause asthma. Some patients with asthma have no obvious allergies.

How is Asthma diagnosed?

A careful medical history, a physical examination and lung function tests provide the information needed to diagnose asthma. Measurement of lung function is useful both for the diagnosis of asthma and to monitor the course of the disease and the level of control. Such tests include spirometry, which provides an assessment of airflow limitation, and peak flow, which measures the maximum speed at which air can flow out of the lungs.

What are the ways to lessen the chance of an Asthma Attack?

Few ways in which can change their one can change their environment in order to lessen the chances of asthma attacks are:
Clean the house at least once a week and wear a mask while doing it

  • Avoids pets with fur and feathers
  • Wash the bedding weekly in hot water 
  • Consider replacing upholstered furniture
  • Use an air-conditioner

What are the treatments for Asthma?

 Although asthma cannot be cured, it can be effectively treated. Research shows that with proper treatment, nearly all asthma patients can achieve and maintain good asthma control. There are three key components of asthma treatment – avoidance of allergens, reliever and preventer medications. 

What is an Allergy? When does it occur?

An allergy occurs when the body overreacts to an allergen or a trigger that is typically harmless to most people. Examples of allergies include Hay Fever, Asthma, Eczema, Hives and food allergy. Estimates suggest that around one out of every four people is allergic.

What are allergens and which are the most common?

A substance in the environment that can cause an allergic reaction in susceptible people is called allergens. There are many different allergens, but they all share one thing in common- protein. 
Common allergens include:  

  • Food such as milk, peanuts, tree nuts (almonds, cashew, and walnuts), sesame and soya products
  • Plants including pollens from grasses and plants 
  • Medicines from some prescription drugs (such as Penicillin), over-the-counter medicines (such as Aspirin) and herbal preparations.
  • Insects such as dust mites and venom from bees and ticks
  • Moulds such as mushroom
  • Animal dander such as the fur and skin flakes from domestic pets like cats and dogs.
  • Industrial and household chemicals and chemical products such as rubber

What are the symptoms of an allergy?

Symptoms of an allergy range from mild to severe. In most cases, effective treatments are available to manage or treat allergy symptoms. Symptoms depend on the type of allergy, but may commonly include sneezing, running nose, red watery and itchy eyes, wheezing, coughing, breathing problems, headaches, skin rashes, stomach pain and vomiting.
Do not self-diagnose. The symptoms may be avoided or removed from your life. For example, a particular food can be avoided, or a pet can be removed from the house or kept away from sleeping areas.

Medication: Although prevention comes first, more may be needed. Medications are usually used to decrease allergy symptoms and improve the patient’s quality of life. Recent advances in medications for Asthma and other allergic diseases have been phenomenal.

Immunotherapy (allergy shots): If a specific allergy is identified and it cannot be avoided or when medication alone is not sufficient to restore your health, the allergic symptoms may be controlled or eliminated with allergy shots. Treatment is a method for increasing the allergic patient’s natural resistance (tolerance) to the things that are triggering the allergic reactions. This treatment involves injections of a small amount of purified “extracts” of the substance that are causing allergic reactions.

Treatment and Surgeries

  • Asthma

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  • Bronchiectasis

  • Bronchitis

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  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

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  • Cystic Fibrosis

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  • Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)

  • Interventional Pulmonology Unit

  • Lung Cancer

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  • Occupational Lung Disease

  • Pleural Effusion

  • Pneumonia

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  • Pneumothorax

  • Pulmonary Embolism

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  • Pulmonary function testing Unit

  • Pulmonary Hypertension

  • Rheumatoid Lung Disease

  • Sarcoidosis

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  • Sleep Apnea

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  • Sleep Disorders Unit

  • Tension Pneumothorax

  • Tuberculosis (TB)

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