Complex Airway Procedures
Numerous bronchoscopic technologies
are used to treat benign and malignant
airway obstruction in a minimally
invasive manner. These procedures
can be performed with flexible or rigid
bronchoscopy. There are very few
providers across the country that have
been formally trained and certified to
perform these highly specialized rigid
bronchoscopies. Many cases, including
complex rigid bronchscopy procedures,
can be done on an outpatient basis.
- Rigid bronchoscopy
- Airway stent placement (metallic, silicone and hybrid)
- Spray cryotherapy
- Nd: YAG laser therapy
- Argon plasma coagulation and electrocautery
- Brachytherapy
- Microdebrider
- Montogomery T-Tube placement
- Balloon bronchoplasty
- Stent removal
- Foreign body removal
Pleural Procedures
Pleuroscopy or medical thoracoscopy
performed under conscious sedation
is an excellent alternative to surgical
thoracosopy for pleural biopsy in
unexplained pleural effusions or for
treatment of recurrent malignant
effusions. The PleurX® catheter program
is a proven system of long-term indwelling pleural catheters for outpatient management of recurrent effusions. Patients are followed closely and can sometimes undergo additional chemical pleurodesis through the catheter.
- Medical thoracoscopy
- Talc pleurodesis
- PleurX indwelling catheter placement
- Tube thoracostomy
Advanced Diagnostic Bronchoscopy
CRH is the first and only center in
Indiana that offers Cone Beam CT guided
electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy.
Having real time 3D CT guidance allows
even the smallest of lung nodules to be
reached from within the lung in a very
precise manner. These procedures are
highly effective in diagnosing tumors at early
stages and are performed in a least invasive
fashion.
- CT guided electromagnetic navigational
bronchoscopy
- Endobronchial ultrasound biopsy of lung and lymph nodes
- Transbronchial biopsy
Learn More
Bronchial Lung Volume Reduction Surgery
CRH is the first and only center in Indiana
to offer this minimally invasive treatment to
certain patients with emphysema, which will
improve lung capacity, exercise capacity, and
quality of life in patients with severe disease.
Zephyr Endobronchial Valve treatment
Columbus Regional Hospital's Lung Institute is the first in Indiana to offer a new lung valve treatment for patients with severe COPD/emphysema. Approved by the FDA under their "Breakthrough Devices" status, the Zephyr Endobronchial Valve treatment represents a major advancement because it is the first minimally invasive procedure to help emphysema sufferers breathe easier without major surgery.
The benefits of Zephyr Valves
Patients report being able to take full breaths immediately after the
procedure and within a few days are back to doing everyday tasks with
ease. In clinical studies patients treated with Zephyr Valves have been
shown to:
- Breathe easier
- Be more active and energetic
- Be less short of breath
- Enjoy a significantly improved
quality of life compared to
untreated patients
Learn more Zephyr Endobronchial Valve treatment
Bronchial Thermoplasty
For patients with severe asthma not controlled on medical treatment, we offer Bronchial Thermoplasty. Bronchial Thermoplasty (BT) is a procedure to reduce the smooth muscle mass of the airway. With less smooth muscle, the airways constrict less, reducing severe asthma attacks.
Learn more about bronchial thermoplasty
Other Procedures
- Percutaneous tracheostomy
- Whole lung lavage for alveolar proteinosis
- Placement of fiducial markers in chest tumors
- Endobronchial valve placement for alveolar pleural fistula