Pulmonology (Latin pulmo, logos – “the doctrine of the lungs”) is a branch of medicine that studies diseases of the respiratory system: lungs, pleura, trachea and bronchi, clinical manifestations of diseases, specifics of diagnosis, methods of treatment and prevention. The respiratory system includes not only the airways, but also the central nervous system, the chest (sternocostal frame, intercostal muscles, diaphragm), the circulatory system in the lungs. Therefore, in a broad sense, the field of competence of pulmonology also includes pathology of other organs of the thoracic cavity, morphologically and functionally related to the respiratory organs.
The organs that pulmonology studies and treats, in addition to the lungs, include: vascular and nerve bundles of the lung root, lymph nodes, thymus gland, diaphragm, etc. The main function of the respiratory system is to provide gas exchange in the lungs.
Pulmonologists are engaged in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of lung and bronchial diseases. Surgical treatment of diseases of the lungs and other organs of the thoracic cavity is carried out by thoracic surgeons (from Greek. thorax – chest).
Pulmonology has close ties with such branches of medicine as cardiology, allergology, otolaryngology, intensive care and intensive care, oncology, transplantology.
Within the framework of pulmonology, an independent direction is distinguished – phthisiology, the field of study of which is the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. The problem of the prevalence of tuberculosis is one of the most urgent in modern medicine.
Pulmonology deals with the treatment of the following types of pathological processes:
Many respiratory diseases have a severe and prolonged course, leading to serious health consequences, shorten the duration and reduce the quality of life of patients.
Pulmonology has acquired special significance in modern medical science. Bronchial and lung diseases occupy leading positions in modern society, their share in the total morbidity of the population varies from 41% to 53%.
The rapid deterioration of the environmental situation, an increase in the level of injuries accompanied by damage to the chest and chest cavity organs, the growth of oncological diseases of the respiratory system, stress factor, occupational hazards contribute to the steady growth and rejuvenation of lung diseases.
An appeal to a pulmonologist usually occurs when characteristic symptoms of lung diseases appear: dry or wet cough, shortness of breath at rest or during physical exertion, attacks of suffocation, chest pain, increased body temperature. Lung diseases are often accidental findings during X-ray examination.
It is possible to suspect a particular respiratory disease already on the basis of complaints and auscultative picture of the lungs. The necessary diagnostic studies to clarify the nature of lung pathology are chest radiography, data on the function of external respiration, bronchoscopy, bronchography, computed tomography of the lungs, angiopulmonography. Of the laboratory methods for diagnosing lung diseases, the study of sputum for cytology, microbial flora, and atypical cells is of the greatest importance.
Treatment of lung diseases, depending on their nature, can be both conservative and surgical. Conservative measures in the treatment of lung and bronchial diseases are aimed at diluting sputum, reducing its amount and facilitating evacuation from the bronchial tree, bronchial dilatation, relieving bronchial muscle spasm, removing the inflammatory process in the bronchopulmonary system, normalizing gas exchange in the lung tissue.
Surgical treatment of diseases of the lungs and other organs of the thoracic cavity in many cases is an emergency measure to eliminate dangerous, life-threatening conditions. Planned surgical treatment of lung diseases is carried out after a detailed examination and the impossibility of conservative treatment of the disease.
The simplest and most effective measures for the prevention of lung diseases are quitting smoking and undergoing an examination by a pulmonologist once a year.
The Medical Directory of Diseases on the website “Medic Journal” presents respiratory diseases in more detail.
Non-small cell lung cancer is a group of morphologically similar malignant neoplasms, including glandular, large cell and squamous cell lung cancer. Typical complaints of patients with persistent cough, shortness of breath, hemoptysis, hoarseness of voice, chest pain. Of the nonspecific symptoms, fever, weight loss, weakness are bothering. Pathology is diagnosed according to radiography/CT of the…
Cystic fibrosis is a severe congenital disease manifested by tissue damage and violation of the secretory activity of the exocrine glands, as well as functional disorders, primarily from the respiratory and digestive systems. Separately, the pulmonary form is isolated. In addition to it, there are intestinal, mixed, atypical forms and mekonivaya intestinal obstruction. Pulmonary form…
Mycoplasma pneumonia is an atypical lung infection, the causative agent of which is Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The disease is accompanied by catarrhal and respiratory manifestations (nasal congestion, sore throat, attacks of obsessive unproductive cough), intoxication syndrome (subfebrility, weakness, headache, myalgia), dyspepsia (discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract). The mycoplasma etiology of pneumonia is confirmed by the data…
Pulmonary mycobacterial infection is a respiratory infection caused by non–tuberculosis Mycobacterium species. The clinical picture is characterized by the presence of chest pain, productive cough, shortness of breath, hemoptysis, intoxication syndrome. Infections of soft tissues, joints, and bones often occur. The diagnosis is facilitated by laboratory identification of the pathogen, histological and radiological signs. The…
Small cell lung cancer is a histological type of malignant lung tumor with an extremely aggressive course and a poor prognosis. Clinically manifested by cough, hemoptysis, shortness of breath, chest pain, weakness, weight loss; in the later stages – symptoms of mediastinal compression. Instrumental methods for the diagnosis of small cell lung cancer (radiography, CT,…
Pleural mesothelioma is a primary malignant tumor arising from mesothelial cells of the parietal and visceral pleural leaflets. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are chest pain, shortness of breath, dry painful cough, progressive cachexia, exudative pleurisy. Tumor lesion of the pleura is diagnosed according to radiography, computed tomography and MRI, diagnostic thoracoscopy, cytological analysis of pleural…
Mediastinitis is an aseptic or microbial inflammatory process in the mediastinal fiber with an acute or chronic course. The development of acute mediastinitis is characterized by pain behind the sternum, fever, chills, tachycardia, severe endogenous intoxication. With chronic mediastinitis, symptoms of compression of the mediastinal organs (cough, shortness of breath, dysphagia) come to the fore.…
Metal fume fever is an acute occupational disease caused by inhalation of metal vapors formed when various metals and alloys are heated to a state of melting or boiling. The disease is manifested by a sharp increase in body temperature and is accompanied by chills, headache, disruption of the respiratory system, digestive tract. When making…
Lipoid pneumonia is an inflammatory infiltration of the lungs that develops due to inhalation or endogenous accumulation of lipid–containing substrates. Clinical manifestations include weakness, fever, chest pain, dyspnea, dry cough, hemoptysis. The pathological process is verified by radiography and CT of the lungs, bronchoscopy with BAL analysis, histology of biopsy material. To resolve pneumonia, corticosteroid…
Mediastinal lymphoma is a malignant type of tumor that develops from mediastinal lymph nodes. In most cases, mediastinal lymphoma is manifested by symptoms of compression of the chest cavity: cough, difficulty breathing and swallowing, chest pain; itching, night sweats are often noted. Mediastinal lymphoma is detected by radiography and CT, the diagnosis is confirmed after…
