Competencies

Our Range of Services

The Department of Pulmonology diagnoses and treats all benign and malignant diseases of the respiratory organs. Our main areas of focus are the diagnosis and therapy of the following conditions:

• COPD, Chronic Bronchitis
• Pulmonary Emphysema
• Pneumonia
• Bronchial Asthma
• Lung Cancer (Bronchial Carcinoma)
• Tuberculosis
• Interstitial Lung Diseases
• Rheumatic Diseases with Lung Involvement
• Granulomatous Lung Diseases
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Sarcoidosis
• Pulmonary Embolism
• Pulmonary Hypertension
• Pleural Effusion
• Allergies including Food Allergy and Insect Venom Allergy
• Occupational Lung Diseases
• Sleep Lab, Sleep School, Home Ventilation
• Respiratory Insufficiency, Ventilation Therapy, Weaning from Long-Term Ventilation

Pulmonary Endoscopy

Our thoracic endoscopy department offers the entire spectrum of minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures listed below, thanks to its modern and comprehensive equipment, which can be performed individually when appropriate medical indications are present.

Flexible Bronchoscopy

• Bronchoalveolar Lavage
• Extensive microbiological diagnostics of bronchial secretions

Rigid Bronchoscopies

Rigid bronchoscopies under general anesthesia for comprehensive bronchological diagnostics in cases of suspected lung cancer or lung metastases

• Endobronchial Ultrasound with Lymph Node Punctures (EBUS-TBNA)
• Transbronchial biopsies with various instruments (fine needle/cryoprobe/forceps) guided by radial ultrasound technology (miniprobe) and/or fluoroscopy (X-ray imaging)
• Electromagnetic Navigation for Nodule Diagnostics
• Ultra-thin bronchoscope for diagnosing peripheral pulmonary nodules
• Recanalization therapy of central airways using cryotherapy with/without APC in rigid technique for tumor diseases
• Endoscopic Lung Volume Reduction (ELVR) using valve implantation in patients with pulmonary emphysema
• Stent implantation in the bronchial system for constrictions due to tumors or external compressions
• Foreign body removal using flexible or rigid techniques

Further Treatment Methods and Procedures

• Ultrasound-guided or CT-guided transthoracic punctures for diagnostic confirmation
• Transbronchial lung cryobiopsies under fluoroscopy for the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease and pulmonary fibrosis
• Indwelling pleural catheter placement for malignant and benign recurrent pleural effusions
• Pleural Punctures
• Thoracic drainage placement for pleural effusions or pneumothorax
• Diagnostic internal thoracoscopies with rigid and/or semi-flexible thoracoscope under general anesthesia for the diagnosis of pleural tumors
• Talcum Pleurodesis (Poudrage during thoracoscopy or slurry via already placed pleural drainage)

Treatment and any further procedures are carried out interdisciplinarily in consultation with several specialist departments, especially in the Lung Cancer Center.

Pulmonary Function Department

• Spirometry and Body Plethysmography
• Blood Gas Analyses
• Stress tests e.g. 6-minute walk test as well as
• Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (Spiroergometry)
• Impulse Oscillometry
• Measurement of Respiratory Muscle Pump Function
• Rhinomanometry
• Nonspecific inhalative provocations (methacholine provocation test)
• Specific Inhalative Provocation Tests
• Polygraphy
• Basic Allergological Diagnostics

Pulmonology Outpatient Clinic

Patients are usually first seen in the pulmonology consultation hours at our outpatient clinic by prior appointment, after which the necessary diagnostic or therapeutic measures are electively planned. In emergencies, presentation at our central emergency room is possible at any time.

Our clinic is part of the Lung Cancer Center of the Evangelical Clinics Essen-Mitte, certified by the German Cancer Society (DKG), ensuring guideline-compliant interdisciplinary treatment in cooperation with the Departments of Thoracic Surgery, Internal Oncology, Radiology, and Radiotherapy.

In the pulmonology outpatient clinic, specialized consultations are offered as part of outpatient specialized care (ASV):

• ASV Lung Cancer (Lung Cancer Center)
• ASV Tuberculosis/Mycobacteriosis
• ASV Pulmonary Hypertension in cooperation with the Department of Cardiology, Elisabeth Hospital Essen
• ASV Neuromuscular Diseases in cooperation with the Department of Neurology, St. Josef Hospital Essen Kupferdreh

Lung cancer

Lung diseases require a reliable diagnosis and proven expertise in therapy. Fortunately, there have been crucial breakthroughs in recent years. These require intensive cooperation between various specialties – which is provided at the Evangelical Clinics Essen-Mitte. Fast and reliable diagnostics require, among other things, extensive endoscopic, radiological, nuclear medicine, and pathological expertise. Therapy is coordinated with experts from Pulmonology, Oncology, Thoracic Surgery, Endoscopy, Radiation Therapy, and Palliative Medicine. In the Department of Pulmonology, we offer this spectrum at the highest level. For patients, this means short distances and human care.

Sleep lab

Sleep is crucial for regenerative processes. Sleep disorders or diseases during sleep therefore have serious consequences: patients suffer, from lack of recovery to the development of many secondary diseases, such as high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases. With the greatest expertise, sleep (brain wave measurement, video recording of sleep), heart rhythm (ECG), breathing (airflow at nose and mouth, respiratory effort at abdomen and chest), blood oxygen saturation, carbon dioxide content, body position, and muscle movements are measured. Measurements take place at our ten measuring stations both at night and during the day to accurately determine the different states of wakefulness and sleepiness. For the examination, you will spend one to three nights in the sleep lab.

Weaning Center

Intensive and ventilatory medicine is an essential component of pulmonological treatment. With better and more differentiated methods, many people survive critical situations, but remain dependent on life-sustaining machines. In this phase, highly specialized intensive care and ventilation units help bring affected individuals back to life. Patients need a lot of support on this arduous path. They require the entire spectrum of intensive care medicine, consisting of ventilation, dialysis, circulatory support, and artificial nutrition. However, this alone is not enough. Additionally, intensive emotional and physical support is necessary. The Evangelical Clinics Essen-Mitte offer the best conditions: led by Pulmonology, many other specialist disciplines such as Anesthesiology, Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Psychiatry, Geriatrics, and Naturopathy are available. This is supplemented by surgical specialties – especially Thoracic Surgery. Highly motivated nursing staff and therapy teams consisting of respiratory therapy, physiotherapy, and speech therapy are important for the treatment of these patients. Rehabilitative measures can thus be started even in mechanically ventilated patients.