Pulmonary Medicine
Breathe easy. Our pulmonary medicine specialists are here to help. Bridgeport Hospital's pulmonary medicine team can diagnose and treat a wide range of respiratory disorders/medical conditions for adults and children. Pulmonology physicians work together with other physicians who specialize in allergy, immunology and many other medical specialties depending on the patient's condition.
Respiratory disorders and medical conditions we diagnose and treat:
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Emphysema
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Interstitial lung disease
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary embolism
- Sleep-related disorders
- Lung cancer
Testing services include:
- Bronchoscopy
- Cardiopulmonary exercise testing
- Pleural biopsy
- Pulmonary function testing
- Sleep testing
Pulmonary Embolism Care
For patients with a pulmonary embolism (PE), a multidisciplinary 24/7 Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) provides initial evaluation and a treatment plan. Our team, part of the Heart and Vascular Center, includes pulmonologists, intensivists, interventional radiologists, cardiologists, surgeons, hematologists and emergency medicine physicians.
About one in 1,000 people develops a pulmonary embolism – a blood clot that travels to the lungs from elsewhere in the body. It can block blood flow to the lungs and strain the heart. Symptoms include chest pain, difficulty breathing, lightheadedness or fainting, cough, palpitations and low blood pressure.
Tests to diagnose a PE include routine blood work, physical examination and dedicated imaging such as computed tomography (CT scan), echocardiography or ventilation-perfusion scan. Treatment options vary based on blood clot severity and may include blood thinners (anticoagulants), and/or a minimally invasive endovascular procedure known as catheter-directed embolectomy that uses a catheter fitted with a suction device to remove the clot. In some cases, clot busters (thrombolytics) or surgery is needed. The care team partners with Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) and patients may be transferred to YNHH for additional care. A specialized curative surgical procedure is offered at Yale New Haven Hospital for adults with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). After treatment, long-term outpatient care is provided and may include Bridgeport Hospital’s Pulmonary Vascular Program.
Quit Smart Smoking Cessation
Quit Smart's powerful program allows you to break free from smoking in four successive weekly sessions with a few simple techniques. The process includes reduction in nicotine consumption, mental control, discussion of alternative options and support. The Quit Smart program has twice the success rate of other smoking cessation programs.
Reservations are required: 1-888-357-2396
