Lung Health Program

Grandmother getting a kiss from her granddaughter.

Breathe Easier With Healthy Lungs

It’s hard to live life on your terms when it’s difficult to breathe. That’s why our team works hard every day to help you breathe easier. With expert diagnosis capability and compassionate lung disease treatment, we’re here to help with conditions that affect your lungs and chest, so you can get back to living your best life.

Count on us for leading-edge lung treatments to improve lung health and treat conditions like:

Asthma
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Emphysema
Lung nodules
Pneumonia

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General Pulmonology

Our team diagnoses and treats multiple pulmonary issues and disorders, including:

Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath is a common symptom. We perform an exhaustive clinical assessment and diagnostic workup, including complete Pulmonary Function Test (PFTs), refer for echocardiography, lab work and chest imaging. Our team may also order a cardio-pulmonary exercise test for complex cases, which we then interpret to arrive at a diagnosis.

Chronic cough
Chronic cough is another common symptom, the primary evaluation of which is clinical. In difficult cases, we perform bronchoscopy as part of our diagnosis process. Asthma With asthma concerns, we may perform spirometry, complete PFTs, allergy testing and blood work. We will find the best treatment for you, from inhaled corticosteroids to the latest biologic injections and advanced options such as bronchial thermoplasty.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
To understand your COPD, we may perform complete PFTs, alpha-1-Antitrypsin deficiency testing or oxygen testing. Treatment strategies may include inhaler therapy, nebulization, oral medications, oxygen therapy and nocturnal ventilators.

Interstitial lung disease/pulmonary fibrosis
This refers to a group of lung conditions that cause scarring or fibrosis of lung tissues leading to shortness of breath and dry cough. These require multi-modality diagnostic procedures, including CT chest imaging, HRCT imaging and blood work.

Lung cancer
Lung cancer can be challenging to diagnose, but we use the latest diagnostic technologies in bronchoscopy, including endobronchial ultrasound with transbronchial biopsy and electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy.

At AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, our physicians hold a bi-monthly, multispecialty Thoracic Tumor Board with experts from pulmonology, thoracic surgery, oncology, radiology, pathology and radiation oncology. These board sessions allow for specialty consultation amongst this group of experts with the goal of providing the best possible care to patients with lung cancer.

Our lung cancer patients receive the benefit of a multispecialty consultation provided by experts from AdventHealth and Moffitt Cancer Center as well, and we offer a variety of state-of-the-art surgical and non-surgical procedures for selected advanced lung cancers.

Pulmonary nodules
Pulmonary nodules are a common finding in the modern world of CT imaging. We closely evaluate them and follow rigorous and well-established criteria with additional imaging as necessary.

Pleural disorders
Pleural effusions are fluid accumulations around the lung. We perform all necessary diagnostic procedures, ranging from thoracentesis to pleuroscopy and therapeutic procedures such as indwelling pleural catheter placement and pleurodesis.

Bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis, or abnormal dilatation of airways, can lead to symptoms like a chronic cough and shortness of breath. We offer thorough diagnostic testing for bronchiectasis, including lab work, CT imaging and bronchoscopy. Management options range from nebulizers and inhalers to vest therapy and other options.

Interventional Pulmonology

We offer advanced pulmonary procedures that aid in diagnosing and managing multiple pulmonary conditions such as lung cancer, tracheobronchomalacia, tracheal stenosis and other conditions.

Specific interventional pulmonology procedures we offer include:

Airway ablation
Airway stent placement
Balloon bronchoplasty
Bronchial thermoplasty
Electromagnetic navigation and robotic bronchoscopy
Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)
Endobronchial valve placement
Flexible bronchoscopy
Indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs)
Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT)
Photodynamic therapy
Pleurodesis and pleuroscopy
Rigid bronchoscopy
Whole-lung lavage

Sleep Care

Our team is here to help you understand and manage symptoms like excessive sleepiness and insomnia, along with diseases such as obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia and periodic limb movement disorder.

Obstructive sleep apnea
If you have severe snoring, have been noticed to stop breathing in sleep, wake up frequently at night or feel tired during the day, diagnosing and treating sleep apnea can be life-changing. We obtain home sleep studies as well as in-lab polysomnograms to diagnose sleep apnea. We collaborate closely with DMEs to provide treatment options, including CPAP and BIPAP.

Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is characterized by extreme levels of sleepiness during the daytime, causing people to fall asleep in unexpected situations. We obtain the necessary sleep studies —including in-lab polysomnography and multiple sleep latency tests — to diagnose narcolepsy. We work closely with patients to develop effective treatment plans.

Idiopathic hypersomnia
Idiopathic hypersomnia can be similar to narcolepsy, with certain differentiating characteristics on the multiple sleep latency test. We work closely with patients to develop effective treatment plans.

Insomnia
Chronic insomnia can be debilitating. Our team will work with you to understand possible etiologies and precipitating factors. Treatment options include cognitive behavioral therapy and medications.

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We specialize in interventional pulmonology and pulmonary treatments, which use advanced diagnostic testing to test your lungs and innovative therapeutic techniques to treat lung and chest conditions. And with 90% of our interventional pulmonary procedures performed on an outpatient basis, we can help you recover faster.

Basic Diagnostic Procedures

Flexible bronchoscopy
During this exam, a flexible scope is moved through your main airways while you’re under general anesthesia. With video images, your care team can evaluate your airways for abnormalities. They can also suction secretions and collect samples, if needed.

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)
During BAL, sterile saline is injected through the working channel of the bronchoscope and into a specific segment of your lung. The fluid is then aspirated back out of your lung for testing, so we can diagnose conditions including inflammation, infection, cancer or bleeding.

Lung biopsy
Biopsies, which can be performed with a needle, forceps or cryoprobe to extract a tissue sample, can help your care team detect inflammation, cancer or infection.

Advanced Diagnostic Procedures

Endobronchial ultrasound system (EBUS)
The EBUS system uses a flexible bronchoscope with a built-in ultrasound to view structures outside your airway wall. Using the ultrasound imaging as a guide, a needle can be passed through the working channel and into the abnormal structure to take samples to detect inflammation, infection or cancer.

Image-guided bronchoscopy (navigational or robotic)
Image-guided bronchoscopy allows your doctors to access hard-to-reach locations in the lung in the most minimally invasive way possible. A copy of your computed tomography (CT) imaging is uploaded to an encrypted computer software system to guide the bronchoscope to the abnormality.

Therapeutic Bronchoscopy

Rigid bronchoscopy
In a rigid bronchoscopy, a long metal tube (the rigid bronchoscope) is navigated through your windpipe and main airways to provide video images that can help your care team rule out or diagnose lung conditions. The large diameter of this bronchoscope also makes it possible for your doctor to use larger instruments, when needed, for certain treatments.

Balloon bronchoplasty
To alleviate symptoms and make it easier for you to breathe, your pulmonologist may recommend balloon bronchoplasty. During this procedure, we’ll insert a catheter that allows us to use a balloon designed to help dilate your airway.

Airway stent (bronchial stent)
When balloon dilation is not enough, your doctor may need to place an airway stent. Some stents are permanent. But, in most cases, they are temporarily placed to alleviate an obstruction.

Tumor debulking
Both lung and metastatic cancers can invade your airways and make it difficult to breathe. Your doctor may use various tools such as laser bronchoscopy, argon plasma coagulation, cryotherapy and mechanical debulking to surgically remove as much of your tumor as possible.

Bronchial thermoplasty
For people who have a hard time controlling their asthma with traditional therapies, bronchial thermoplasty may offer relief. By applying heat to different airways, we can often lessen the constriction during asthma attacks.

Leading-Edge Technology

ILLUMISITE™ Platform by Medtronic
With the ILLUMISITE™ Platform by Medtronic at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, state-of-the-art lung navigation technology is close to home. This technology can help diagnose lung lesions and localize lung nodules for biopsy through electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (commonly referred to as ENB) with tomosynthesis enhancements.

Using the ILLUMISITE™ Platform, our team can perform minimally invasive procedures that reach even the tiniest suspicious lung. We can sample multi-directionally for a thorough biopsy and potentially improved outcomes.

Ion Endoluminal System by Intuitive
Ion is a robotic-assisted endoluminal platform for minimally invasive peripheral lung biopsy. The system features an ultra-thin, ultra-maneuverable catheter that allows navigation far into the peripheral lung and gives our team unprecedented stability for biopsies.

During a procedure using the Ion system, a physician will insert the Ion fully articulating catheter into the patient’s lung via the mouth and throat through an endotracheal tube, which may reduce the chance of complications associated with traditional, needle-based biopsy approaches.

Ion’s ability to navigate to small nodules and enable precise biopsies may help patients get answers sooner, affording more time to consider treatment options.

Meet Our Lung Care Team

Sandeep Chennadi, MD, MPH

Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine
Amit Tandon, MD

Interventional Pulmonology, Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine
Martin Britos-Bray, MD

Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine
Shannon Moulton, BSN, RN
Salman Aslam, MD

Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine
Ravi Vydyula, MD

Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine
Larry Manganello, APRN
Denice Saunders, APRN

Trusted for Award-Winning Lung Care

Our teams at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel have been recognized by national organizations for upholding the highest standards of lung care.

Healthgrades 5-Star Treatment of Pneumonia

Five-Star for Treatment of Pneumonia

Five-Star for Treatment of COPD

High Performing Hospital for Pneumonia Treatment

Pulmonary Care Excellence Award

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Get in Touch With Our Lung Health Nurse Navigator

Our Nurse Navigator program provides personalized, one-on-one attention while you seek treatment to improve your lung health. Your Nurse Navigator can help you schedule a low-dose lung CT scan, understand incidental nodule findings, provide cessation support information and help you throughout your journey.

To speak with our Lung Health Nurse Navigator, please call 813-929-5222.

Lung Health Program

Breathe Easier With Healthy Lungs

Offering the Full Spectrum of Pulmonology Care

Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutic Procedures

Meet Our Lung Care Team

Sandeep Chennadi, MD, MPH

Amit Tandon, MD

Martin Britos-Bray, MD

Shannon Moulton, BSN, RN

Salman Aslam, MD

Ravi Vydyula, MD

Larry Manganello, APRN

Denice Saunders, APRN