Breathe Easier With the Right Pulmonology Care
It’s hard to live life on your terms when it’s difficult to breathe. That’s why our team at our pulmonology clinic in Tarpon Springs works hard every day to help you breathe easier. With expert diagnosis capability and compassionate lung disease treatment, we’re here to diagnose and treat 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), including bronchitis and emphysema, pneumonia, lung nodules and more.
Pulmonary Conditions We Treat
Whether you’re managing a chronic condition, experiencing new symptoms or looking for a second opinion, we’re here to guide you. Our pulmonologists diagnose and treat a full spectrum of pulmonary conditions and symptoms, all with a focus on your whole health.
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Bronchiectasis
- Chronic cough
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Emphysema
- Idiopathic hypersomnia
- Insomnia
- Interstitial lung disease
- Lung cancer
- Narcolepsy
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Pulmonary nodules
- Shortness of breath
Our Comprehensive Pulmonology Services
- General Pulmonology
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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 tests (PFTs), refer for echocardiography, lab work and chest imaging. Our team may also order a cardiopulmonary exercise test for complex cases, which we then interpret to make a diagnosis.Chronic Cough
Chronic cough is another common symptom, whose primary evaluation is clinical. In difficult cases, we perform bronchoscopy as part of our diagnosis process. With asthma concerns, we may do a spirometry test, complete PFTs, allergy testing and blood work. Rest assured that we’ll find the best asthma 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. COPD treatment strategies may include bronchitis treatment, inhaler therapy, nebulization, oral medications, oxygen therapy and nocturnal ventilators.Interstitial Lung Disease and Pulmonary Fibrosis
This refers to a group of lung conditions that cause scarring or fibrosis of lung tissues, leading to shortness of breath and a dry cough. These require multimodal diagnostic procedures, including chest CT imaging, HRCT imaging and blood work.Lung Cancer Screening and Diagnosis
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.Pulmonary Nodules
Pulmonary nodules are a common finding in 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. - Specialized Pulmonary Procedures
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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:
- Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)
- Flexible bronchoscopy
- Nodify Lung® nodule risk assessment
- Transbronchial biopsy
- Whole-lung lavage
- Sleep Care
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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.
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.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 frustrating and even debilitating. Our team will work with you to understand possible etiologies and precipitating factors. Treatment options include cognitive behavioral therapy and medications.
Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutic Procedures
At our Tarpon Springs pulmonology clinic, we specialize in interventional pulmonology and pulmonary treatments, using advanced diagnostic testing to evaluate your lungs and innovative therapeutic techniques to treat lung and chest conditions.
Pulmonary Function Testing
We use a group of noninvasive breathing tests to measure how well your lungs hold and move air, and how efficiently they transfer oxygen into your blood.
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 such as 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.
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 areas of the lungs 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.
Rigid Bronchoscopy
During a rigid bronchoscopy, a long metal tube (the rigid bronchoscope) is inserted through your windpipe and main airways to provide 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 and use a balloon to 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 placed temporarily 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 areas of the airways, we can often reduce constriction during asthma attacks.
Find a Trusted Pulmonologist Near You
No matter where you are on your lung health journey, we’re here to guide you. Explore our list of pulmonologists in Tarpon Springs and get the expert care and support you need to start feeling your best again.
Get Started With Wholehearted Lung Care
Your lung health journey is unique, and pulmonary doctors are here to support it every step of the way, helping you live healthier and feel better. Request an appointment today and let our expert team provide the support and expertise you’re looking for. Together, we'll create a plan that helps you move forward with confidence.
