Diagnosis of pulmonary emphysema in Hospital Kloster Grafschaft Schmallenberg

About the department

The Department of Pulmonology at the Hospital Kloster Grafschaft Schmallenberg offers all the options of modern medicine in the diagnostics and treatment of diseases of the lungs, bronchi and pleural cavities. The priority focuses of the department's doctors are the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchial asthma and pulmonary emphysema. Another important focus of the medical facility is on the diagnostics and treatment of chronic cough. The treatment of lung tumors is also within the competence of the department. It is provided in cooperation with the Lung Cancer Center Hemer – one of the best specialized centers in Germany certified by the German Cancer Society. The department is proud of its excellent diagnostic equipment: X-ray devices, computed tomography, equipment for bronchoscopy, spirometry, whole body plethysmography, etc. Thus, pulmonologists have all the necessary resources to make an accurate diagnosis, which determines the success of further therapeutic measures. The department's medical team annually admits more than 4,000 patients, which testifies to the high level of medical care and the reputability of the department in the area of its specialization. The department is headed by Dr. med. Peter Haidl.

The department is distinguished by successful experience in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a pathology characterized by chronically restricted air movement in the respiratory system. The main symptoms of COPD are chronic cough, profuse sputum when coughing and shortness of breath. The standard diagnostic protocol includes a general clinical examination, spirometry, sputum cytology and X-ray imaging. Should the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease be confirmed, the patient will receive an individual treatment regimen. COPD therapy is based on the intake of such medications as bronchodilators, mucolytics, antibiotics, etc. The department's doctors also actively use inhalation therapy (the use of bronchodilators in the form of inhalation), which is one of the most effective treatment methods for COPD. The specialists often use long-term oxygen therapy, which can be supplemented by non-invasive ventilation. All the therapeutic procedures are carried out under strict medical supervision. In addition, the department's doctors strongly recommend the patients to quit smoking.

An integral part of clinical practice of the department's doctors is the treatment of chronic cough. Cough is a symptom of many pulmonary diseases (for example, influenza, bronchitis, pneumonia), so it is extremely important for the specialists to determine the exact cause of its development and to provide the required treatment. The treatment of recurrent infectious pulmonary diseases (bronchitis, pneumonia and others) is of particular interest to the department's medical team. As a rule, to treat these pathologies, the doctors use drug therapy with antibiotics.

The department's service range is complemented by comprehensive diagnostics and treatment of lung tumors. Lung cancer is one of the most dangerous types of oncology, and therefore modern treatment methods are required to fight against this disease. The department's pulmonologists treat lung cancer in cooperation with one of the best Lung Cancer Centers in Germany (Hemer). In most cases, the patients with lung cancer require surgery to resect a malignant tumor. If the tumor is detected at the early stages, it is possible to perform endoscopic procedures (therapeutic bronchoscopy). However, if the pathology has reached an advanced stage, the patient will then be indicated either minimally invasive or classical open surgery. The surgical treatment can be complemented by chemotherapy, radiation therapy and chemoradiotherapy. The patients with terminal lung cancer receive high-quality palliative care aimed at relieving symptoms and improving quality of life. As in the case of benign pulmonary diseases, the treatment regimen for lung cancer is developed for each patient individually.

The department specializes in the diagnostics and treatment of the following respiratory diseases:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Pulmonary emphysema
• Bronchial asthma
• Lung tumors
• Interstitial lung disease
• Chronic cough
• Shortness of breath of unknown origin
• Pleurisy
• Diaphragmatic disorders
• Other diseases of the respiratory system 

The department's range of medical services includes:

• Diagnostics
  • Pulmonary function testing
    • Whole body plethysmography to assess airway resistance and static lung volumes
    • Spirometry to assess volumetric and velocity parameters of breathing
    • Measurement of the diffusion capacity of the lungs (single breath method)
    • Capillary blood test (at rest and stress) to assess pulmonary gas exchange
    • Bronchospasmolysis test to assess the reversibility of airway obstruction
    • Non-specific bronchial provocation test with histamine to detect bronchial hyperresponsiveness
    • Measurement of respiratory muscle strength (P01, Pimax) to detect impairments of their pumping function
    • Diagnostics of impaired mucociliary clearance
    • Six-minute walk test
    • Spiroergometry
    • Capnometry during sleep to assess the concentration or partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the inhaled and exhaled air during the patient's breathing cycle
    • Electrocardiography
    • 24-hour blood pressure monitoring
  • Diagnostic flexible and rigid bronchoscopy
  • Diagnostic bronchoalveolar lavage 
  • X-ray-guided transbronchial lung biopsy
  • Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)
  • Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA)
  • Diagnostic pleural puncture 
  • Ultrasound and CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy
  • Diagnostic thoracoscopy
  • Diaphragm X-ray scanning
  • Gastroscopy
  • Rectoscopy and colonoscopy
  • Transesophageal echocardiography
• Treatment
  • Drug therapy
  • Inhalation therapy
  • Long-term oxygen therapy
  • Therapeutic flexible and rigid bronchoscopy 
  • Therapeutic bronchoalveolar lavage
  • Argon plasma coagulation
  • Therapeutic pleural puncture 
  • Pleural drainage 
  • Therapeutic thoracoscopy 
  • Pleurodesis
• Other diagnostic and therapeutic options