Interventional Pulmonology at Columbia

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If you’re struggling with pulmonary disease, Columbia can help you breathe a little easier. Our Interventional Pulmonology Program can diagnose and treat a wide range of pulmonary diseases and respiratory conditions using minimally invasive techniques that can shorten recovery, reduce risk, and improve quality of life.

Pulmonary disease affects your lungs and other parts of your respiratory system, making it harder to breathe and dramatically impacting quality of life.
Interventional pulmonology can diagnose and treat patients with all forms of pulmonary diseases using minimally invasive techniques.
By avoiding surgery, interventional pulmonology offers reduced recovery times, few complications, and shorter hospital stays—many interventional diagnostic and therapeutic treatments are outpatient procedures.

To make an appointment, please call (212) 305-6523.

What Is Interventional Pulmonology?

Interventional pulmonology uses minimally invasive or non-invasive techniques to diagnose and treat lung and breathing issues. Many interventional procedures use a bronchoscope: a flexible, steerable instrument with a light and camera. It’s inserted into the lungs and airways through the nose or mouth. It allows doctors to inspect your airways, perform tests, remove obstructions, and place stents or valves to improve airflow—all without open surgery.

That means shorter hospital stays—in fact, many interventional diagnostic and therapeutic treatments are outpatient procedures, eliminating the hospital stay entirely.

Interventional pulmonology can also evaluate and assess the risk of abnormal growths like lung nodules and masses. Electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy (ENB) uses advanced guidance techniques to access difficult-to-reach areas of the lung and help speed up diagnosis.

Who We Treat

We diagnose and treat patients with all forms of pulmonary diseases without traditional surgery, using minimally invasive techniques. Pulmonary disease affects your lungs and other parts of your respiratory system. These conditions can dramatically impact quality of life and are often life-threatening.

Conditions We Treat

Airway obstruction
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
COVID-19-related respiratory issues
Foreign bodies
Hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy
Lung cancer
Lung nodules/lung masses
Lung scarring/lung fibrosis
Pleural disease
Pleural effusions
Tracheal stenosis
Tracheobronchomalacia
Tracheoesophageal fistulas

Diagnostic Services We Offer

Diagnostic procedures for post-COVID-19 patients
Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)
Electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy (ENB)
Fluoroscopy
Lung nodule/mass evaluation
Lung transplant preoperative diagnosis
Pleural biopsies
Pleuroscopy

Treatments We Offer

Airway dilation
Airway stents
Awake thoracoscopy
Balloon dilation
Bronchoplasty
Bronchoscopy
Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction surgery (BLVR)
Cancer care
Cryoablation
Endobronchial valve placement
Lung Transplant postoperative care
Management of post-COVID-19 symptoms and recovery
Microwave ablation
Montgomery Tracheal Cannula and Montgomery T-Tube placement
Photodynamic therapy (PDT)
Pleurodesis
Robot-assisted surgery
Thoracentesis
Thoracoscopy
Tracheostomy
Tumor ablation
Tumor destruction
Tumor extraction
Tunneled indwelling pleural catheter placement

Program Highlights

Unmatched Columbia Expertise

Columbia is a leading medical center for the treatment of pulmonary disease. Thanks to our vast experience in areas like lung transplantation and cancer care, we’re able to translate our expertise into approaches that embrace new technologies and provide the best outcomes.

A Multidisciplinary Care Team

Our team combines specialists from across Columbia, including interventional pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, otolaryngologists, medical oncologists, and interventional gastroenterologists. We work together to make sure you’re getting the care you need.

Minimally Invasive Approach

Our surgeons and clinicians are experts in using innovative minimally invasive techniques without compromising results. We can often provide care for patients who have been turned away from other centers because they have been deemed too high-risk.

The Most Advanced Technologies

Our specialists employ the latest technologies—like ENB and endobronchial ultrasound—for fast and accurate diagnosis. And new advanced interventional procedures like endobronchial valve placement offer new options for a variety of respiratory diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Care at the Leading Hospital in NYC

We offer office visits at locations throughout New York City, including the Price Family Center for Comprehensive Chest Care. Procedures are performed at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical Center at the Milstein Hospital and the Herbert Irving Pavilion Endoscopy Suite.

Columbia Virtual Visits

For initial consultations, second opinions, and follow-up visits, we offer telehealth appointments through Columbia Virtual Visits—so you can meet with your care team from the comfort of your own home.