Interventional Pulmonology

If your airways or lungs become obstructed—by a tumor, scarring, or a foreign body—it can become hard to breathe. Interventional pulmonology (IP) uses minimally invasive procedures and specialized tools to diagnose and treat airway and breathing issues.

Because IP treatments are minimally invasive, patients can benefit from shorter hospital stays, lower risk of bleeding, and faster recoveries. Columbia offers some IP procedures in an outpatient setting.

Interventional Pulmonology at Columbia

The Interventional Pulmonology Program at Columbia operates jointly under the Department of Surgery and the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine. We offer expert consultation and sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for all types of airway, lung, and pleural diseases, including:

• Lung cancer
• Airway stenosis/obstruction
• Pleural effusions
• Lung nodules

Multidisciplinary Approach to Care

We work closely with multiple specialties across Columbia to provide our patients with a tailored, multidisciplinary treatment plan.

• Thoracic surgery
• Medical oncology
• Radiation oncology
• Pulmonary medicine
• Interventional gastroenterology
• Laryngology

Specialized Care Programs

We offer state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment and the highest quality of care for patients with advanced airway and pleural disease. 

Conditions We Treat

• Lung nodules
• Lung cancer
• Emphysema
• Pleural disease
  • Pleural effusion ("water on the lungs")
  • Pleural tumors
  • Pleurisy
• Tracheobronchomalacia
• Tracheoesophageal fistula
• Airway foreign body

Treatments and Services We Offer

• Rigid bronchoscopy
• Endobronchial tumor ablation
• Airway stents
• Navigational bronchoscopy
• Robotic bronchoscopy
• Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)
• Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVRS)
• Tunneled pleural catheter (indwelling pleural catheter)
• Tracheostomy
• Montgomery T-tube
• Photodynamic Therapy
• Cryotherapy
• Pleuroscopy
• Medical Thoracoscopy
• Whole Lung Lavage