Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Medical Oncology

Contents of medical treatment

Our specialty is to handle pulmonary disorders and provide sufficient and appropriate diagnosis and treatment by specialized doctors.

We perform diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of general pulmonary diseases, allergic disease such as bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), various diffuse lung diseases such as interstitial pneumonia, respiratory tract infections including pneumonia and pulmonary tuberculosis and lung cancer.

We positively use a respiratory function test, various imaging examinations (chest X‐ray, CT, MRI and nuclear medicine scan) and other kinds of methods in routine clinical practice (inpatient and outpatient) to diagnose and treat all sorts of diseases. Furthermore, we also actively use a thoracoscope ?under local anesthesia, diagnose and treat using a bronchoscope, diagnose pleural effusions in addition to making a diagnosis using biopsy examination and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid etc. Regarding using bronchoscopes and thoracoscopes under local anesthesia, we play a central role in cooperation with the Central Endoscopy Division.
In addition, we also perform respiratory care for acute and chronic respiratory failure that is associated with individual diseases. Cooperating with the emergency intensive care unit, we are also involved in advanced medical care using artificial respiration and participate in noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation, home oxygen therapy, and home artificial respiration.

Regarding sleep-apnea syndrome, we efficiently perform a series of medical practices, from diagnosis using poly-sonography to treatment with continuous positive airway pressure therapy using a nasal mask, during a short hospitalization.

We have many consultations related to diagnosis and treatment of various diseases from inside and outside the hospital, have always had many referral patients, and play a central role in pulmonary medical practice in Wakayama prefecture.

In addition, through epidemiological investigations related to various pulmonary diseases and all sorts of workshops, we are also involved in public awareness campaigns cooperating with administrative organizations and medical associations, and in enlightenment and guidance to help people understand a disease accurately.

Fields of specialty

Pulmonary organ (asthma, COPD, lung cancer, pneumonia, interstitial pneumonia, sleep-apnea syndrome, home oxygen therapy) and connective tissue disease.

Introduction of a specialized outpatient service and the number of cases

In our department, seven Japanese Respiratory Society medical specialists and five staff are involved in medical practice as an approved facility by the Japanese Respiratory Society.
The total number of new patients is more than 5000 since the Department of Pulmonary Medicine started outpatient service, and its details include 700 cases of bronchial asthma, 360 cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 170 cases of interstitial pneumonia and 700 cases of lung cancer etc.

The classification of new patients in the past year is 200 cases of bronchial asthma, 100 cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 50 cases of interstitial pneumonia, 100 cases of lung cancer and 30 cases of sleep-apnea syndrome etc. and all diseases have an increasing tendency in recent years. We perform diagnosis and treatment using a bronchoscope in about 150 cases per year and mainly diagnose lung cancer and interstitial pneumonia with it.

Departments

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