Department of Pulmonology - Hospital Harlaching Munich

About the Department of Pulmonology at Hospital Harlaching Munich

The Department of Pulmonology at the Hospital Harlaching Munich offers the full range of medical services in the area of ​​its competence. The medical facility has been conducting its clinical activities for over 100 years, and therefore it has exceptional experience in the treatment of diseases of the lungs and other organs of the respiratory system. The department is part of the specialized Lung Center founded jointly with the Department of Pulmonology at the Hospital Bogenhausen Munich. The department has modern diagnostic rooms with state-of-the-art equipment for assessing the state of the respiratory system, an Intensive Care Unit with advanced heart-lung machines and a Weaning Unit. The department's pulmonologists also specialize in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for acute respiratory distress syndrome. All diagnostic and therapeutic measures are provided in accordance with the current clinical protocols, which guarantees their highest efficiency. The Chief Physician of the department is Prof. Dr. med. Joachim Meyer.

The department has 60 beds for inpatient stay. The medical team of the medical facility consists of 30 specialized doctors and about 50 members of nursing staff. All the department's employees are carefully selected, have excellent qualifications and extensive professional experience. The department's specialists annually provide medical care to more than 2,800 patients with clinical cases of varying complexity.

The key to successful treatment is high-quality diagnostics, and therefore the department’s doctors carry out modern examinations, which allow them to comprehensively assess the functioning of the lungs and airways, detect or exclude pathological changes in the structure of these organs. The patients with suspected lung diseases undergo pulmonary function tests, bronchoscopy, spiroergometry, ultrasound scanning of the respiratory system, screening for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The department performs bronchoscopy (flexible and rigid) around the clock. In addition, the ​​competence of the department's doctors includes endobronchial ultrasound, cryotherapy, laser procedures and argon plasma coagulation.

The department's medical team has a perfect command of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation aimed at the treatment of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. In most cases, this pathological condition is caused by severe forms of pneumonia and sepsis. In addition, multiple injuries, acute pancreatitis and toxic shock can be the cause of the development of acute pulmonary insufficiency. In the case of particularly complex forms of acute respiratory distress syndrome, the department's specialists have to resort to invasive lung ventilation – bilevel positive airway pressure. In addition, airway pressure release ventilation can be used in such cases. When carrying out any type of artificial ventilation, the department's doctors set themselves the goal of minimizing mechanical damage to the lungs.

An important focus of ​​work of the department's specialists is the weaning of patients from mechanical ventilation, which is often a complex task and requires particular professionalism. Weaning medical programs are carried out in a specially equipped unit certified by the German Society of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine (DGP). There are only three certified centers of this kind in Bavaria.

The department's main clinical focuses include:

• Diagnostic tests
  • Pulmonary function testing
  • Spiroergometry
  • Ultrasound scanning of the lungs, pleural cavities and diaphragm
  • Flexible and rigid bronchoscopy
  • Endobronchial ultrasound 
  • Fine-needle aspiration
  • Screening for obstructive sleep apnea
• Therapeutic procedures
  • Drug treatment
  • Cryotherapy
  • Laser procedures
  • Argon plasma coagulation
  • Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for the treatment of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome
  • Bilevel positive airway pressure and airway pressure release ventilation for severe forms of acute respiratory distress syndrome
  • Weaning from mechanical ventilation
  • Intensive care (mechanical ventilation, dialysis, heart function support, etc.) in case of severe infectious diseases (for example, pneumonia), sepsis, severe poisoning
• Other diagnostic and therapeutic services