When you come to the Pulmonary Institute in Orlando, you will be in the capable hands of Dr. Mariselly Medina. She has vast experience treating lung disease and performing an array of diagnostic tests and pulmonary procedures. Some of these may take place in our office, while others will be done in a hospital setting. Common treatments and procedures include:
- Pulmonary function tests
- Six-minute walk test
- Bronchoscopy with and without biopsy
- Thoracentesis (lung fluid drainage)
For a compassionate and highly skilled lung disease doctor in central Florida, call Dr. Medina at (407) 219-5936 or use our request an appointment form.
Chest X-Ray
One of the first tests Dr. Medina may order to help diagnose your lung condition is a chest X-ray. Images of the heart, lungs, airways, blood vessels, and chest wall can help in the evaluation of symptoms such as shortness of breath, chronic cough, and chest pain. Chest X-rays may also be helpful in monitoring the effectiveness of treatment for pneumonia, asthma, COPD, emphysema, lung cancer, and other pulmonary disorders.
Chest CT Scan
A computed chest tomography, or chest CT scan, is a diagnostic digital imaging test that uses x-ray and other technologies to provide a detailed view of the organs within the chest. Chest CT scans are often more detailed than chest x-rays, allowing Dr. Medina to get a fuller view of your possible condition. Dr. Medina may recommend a diagnostic chest CT scan if you have unexplained chest pain or if she suspects you have an infection.
Pulmonary Function Tests
Dr. Medina will want to know how well your lungs and airways are working. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) include various breathing tests that can help our pulmonologist diagnose lung disease and the severity of your problem. PFTs evaluate several factors, such as:
- How much air your lungs can hold
- How quickly you can move air in and out of your lungs
- How deep of a breath you can take
- How effectively oxygen moves from your lungs to your blood
While you may become tired during PFTs, they are painless and take approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete.
Six-Minute Walk Test
The six-minute walk test is a type of pulmonary function test performed to evaluate your exertion and oxygen levels and the effectiveness of treatment. It is also used to help set up an individualized exercise program for pulmonary rehabilitation and to monitor your progress.
Smoking Cessation Programs
If you have lung disease and you smoke, quitting smoking can significantly improve your lung function, decrease chronic symptoms, such as coughing and wheezing, lower your blood pressure, improve circulation, and reduce your risk of developing cancer. At the Pulmonary Institute, we offer smoking cessation counseling to help you kick the habit and remain smoke-free. Dr. Medina will personally oversee your program and monitor your progress.
Bronchoscopy
A bronchoscopy may be used to both diagnose and treat lung problems. During this procedure, Dr. Medina will examine your airways through a thin tube called a bronchoscope. A bronchoscopy enables the doctor to diagnose problems with your airway or lungs (such as pulmonary disorders or lung cancer), take tissue samples for biopsy, widen the airway, and remove objects blocking the airway. The procedure is typically performed in the hospital under sedation or general anesthesia.
Thoracentesis (Lung Fluid Drainage)
If you have excess fluid in the space between your lungs and chest wall (pleural space) – a condition known as pleural effusion – Dr. Medina may perform a thoracentesis. This procedure removes the excess fluid, which can relieve shortness of breath and chest pain. To perform thoracentesis, the doctor inserts a needle through the chest wall into the pleural space and withdraws the fluid. A sample of the fluid, or pleural biopsy, may be sent to a lab to determine the cause of the fluid buildup and help Dr. Medina develop a care plan.
Thoracentesis can be performed in the hospital and requires only a local anesthetic to numb the skin at the injection site. The procedure is usually only 10 to 15 minutes long, but may take a little longer depending on the amount of fluid to be drained.
