Flexible Bronchoscopy, also known as an Airway Endoscopy, and is a visual exam of the breathing passages of the lungs (called “airways”). This test is done when it’s important for your North Jersey Pulmonary Associates specialist to see inside the airways of your lungs, or to get samples of mucus/tissue from the lungs.
This procedure involves placing a thin tube-like instrument called a bronchoscope through the nose or mouth and down into the airways of the lungs. The tube acts as a camera and is able to carry pictures back to a video screen.
Infections: When a person is suspected of having a serious infection, bronchoscopy may be performed to get better samples from a particular area of the lung. These samples can be looked at in a lab to try to find out the exact cause of the infection. A person who has recurrent infection may have a bronchoscopy to try to figure out a cause. For example, tissue samples can be looked at for cilia function (brush lining of airways that move mucus). Airway fluid can be checked to see if there are any signs of aspiration due to swallowing problems that allow food or liquids to get into the airways.
Lung spot: An abnormal finding (“spot”) in the lung viewed on an x-ray film or CT scan may be caused by an infection, cancer, or inflammation. Bronchoscopy is done in some cases to take samples from the area. These samples are then looked at in a lab to help find the specific cause of the lung spot.
Airway blockage and Atelectasis: Atelectasis is caused when the airway to a lung or part of a lung is blocked and air cannot get through. The air sacs do not expand which can be seen on chest x-ray. This blockage is usually caused by something such as a peanut, a tumor, or thick mucus in the airway passage. Bronchoscopy allows the doctor to see the blockage and try to sample and/or remove the substance. This helps to open up the airway and lung, especially when lesser invasive treatments (like chest airway clearance) have failed.
Bleeding: When a person has coughed up blood, bronchoscopy may help find the cause of the bleeding. For example, if a tumor is causing the bleeding, the doctor will locate the tumor and take samples of tissue (biopsies) through the bronchoscope. The samples are then looked at in the lab to identify the type of tumor.
Noisy Breathing and Abnormal Airways: A person can have noisy or abnormal breathing sounds that may be caused by a problem with the throat or airways of the lung. There may be shortness of breath, noisy breathing, or labored breathing during sleep. Children may be born with abnormal airways such as a tracheal (windpipe) connection with the esophagus (feeding tube) called a TE fistula. Bronchoscopy allows the doctor to look directly at the throat, vocal cord area, windpipe, and major airways to identify any problems. Causes of this type of breathing may include vocal cord paralysis or weakness, floppiness in the airways (bronchomalacia) or voice box (laryngomalacia), or a blood vessel pressing on the outside of the airway (vascular compression).
Lung Transplant: People who have had lung transplant will have bronchoscopy to check on how well the lungs are doing Samples will be taken of tissue and airway mucus to check for infection or signs of rejection in the new lungs.
Learn more here or call us at (973) 987-6771 for more information.
According to the American Lung Association, EBUS (endobronchial ultrasound) bronchoscopy is an outpatient procedure that is used to diagnose different types of lung disorders, including inflammation, infections or cancer.
Our team of pulmonologists at North Jersey Pulmonary Associates perform EBUS bronchoscopy by using a flexible tube that enters through your mouth and down into your windpipe and lungs. Before the procedure begins, you will be administered medication through IV to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure, and possibly even be put to sleep using anesthesia.
The EBUS scope is a small scope that provides us with video footage to help examine and collect samples from your lungs. The scope also contains an ultrasound probe to create local images of your lungs and nearby lymph nodes in order to accurately locate and evaluate areas seen on x-rays or scans that need a closer look. After the procedure, there is a brief observation period and then you are able to go home (you will need someone to drive you home). While EBUS Bronchoscopy is an extremely safe procedure, it is important to remember to inform our team if you have had trouble with anesthesia or sedation medications in the past.
FeNO Test
As the signs and degree of asthma symptoms vary from person to person, it’s essential to track the severity of the condition and any changes over time. Whether your flare-ups occur while exercising, allergy-induced, due to a respiratory infection, stress, or occupational irritants, without proper diagnosis and an appropriate management plan, the condition can be life-threatening. By performing a FeNO test, our office can determine the amount of nitric acid in your breath, the degree of inflammation in your airways, and the most effective approach to care.
Effective management depends on precise diagnostic testing.
For patients with allergic or eosinophilic asthma, a FeNO test offers an objective and accurate measurement of airway inflammation. Beyond being a valuable diagnostic tool, this test also provides the following benefits:
While conventional evaluation methods measure airflow, a FeNO test quantifies the degree of airway inflammation. With reliable data on airway inflammation and steroid responsiveness in hand, well-informed and therapeutic treatment decisions can be made. Recommended by the American Thoracic Society (ATS), a FeNO test supports the accurate assessment, management, and long-term monitoring of asthmatic conditions.
A convenient, quick, and non-invasive diagnostic tool
Simple, safe, and easy to perform; a FeNO test is well tolerated by both children and adults. While instructed and supervised by a member of our office team, all a patient needs to do is take a slow, deep breath in and then exhale steadily and evenly into a tube attached to a specialized electronic measurement device. Typically, the entire test can be performed in five minutes, with accurate results available soon after that.
At North Jersey Pulmonary Associates, we maintain a position at the forefront of advances in technology and care. We use the NIOX VERO®, one of the most utilized and well respected FeNO testing devices across the globe.
Common types of PFTs are spirometry, diffusion studies and body plethysmography, which are each procedures conducted in order to determine how well you move air in and out of your lungs and how efficiently oxygen enters your bloodstream.
According to the American Thoracic Society, PFTs can be used to:
Learn the full article to understand more about the various types of PFTs.
If you experience difficulty sleeping most nights, you may have a sleep problem that needs further examination. Trouble sleeping needs to be properly diagnosed and treated before resulting in poor quality of life or serious health problems.
The team at North Jersey Pulmonary Associates has decades of experience treating sleep conditions. The first step after reviewing your sleep history, will recommend a sleep study.
Sleep studies are tests that monitor your sleep, either overnight or during a series of naps during the day. These tests are painless and used to diagnose sleep problems such as insomnia, sleep apnea, or narcolepsy.
A sleep study will help determine whether or not you are having health problems possibly related to poor sleep and what the best treatment options are for you.
If you have experienced one or more of these sleep issues, there may be a treatable underlying health problem. Examples of two common sleep problems are: obstructive sleep apnea or narcolepsy.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a condition in which you stop breathing during sleep due to a narrowed or closed airway.
Narcolepsy is a condition in which you experience daytime sleepiness and may fall asleep at unexpected times, such as during work, school, or driving.
The team at North Jersey Pulmonary Associates can diagnose these and other sleep conditions before they cause serious more health problems. Please reach out to our office to make an appointment at (973) 987-6771.
Thoracentesis is a minimally invasive procedure that removes fluid from the space between the lungs and the chest wall, which is known as the pleural space.
When it appears that a patient is producing excess fluid in the pleural space a Thoracentesis is used. Excess fluid in the pleural space which can be an indicator of a lung problem, including lung cancer.
During a Thoracentesis procedure, a patient is given a local anesthetic in the chest wall to prevent pain, followed by the insertion of a long needle into the pleural space. The syringe is attached to a vacuum bottle, which draws in fluid from the lungs, and then the needle is then removed and a bandage is placed on the site. The removed fluid is sent for pathologic and microscopic evaluation. Generally, the procedure takes 10 to 15 minutes and there is no downtime, aside from possible soreness at the biopsy site for 1-2 days post-procedure.
Have questions? Call us at (973) 987-6771.
Thoracic Ultrasound
What is a thoracic ultrasound?
To assist in the accurate diagnosis of pulmonary conditions, our office may recommend a thoracic ultrasound. This non-invasive diagnostic test provides images and essential information on the vital organs and important structures in the chest cavity.
Unlike other types of diagnostic imaging, a thoracic ultrasound does not involve radiation, nor the ingestion or injection of a contrast dye. This quick and convenient test can also be performed in-office, providing real-time results to assist in the diagnosis of acute as well as chronic issues.
Why a thoracic ultrasound may be recommended
Frequently recommended along with other types of diagnostic imaging such as a chest x-ray, CT scan, or MRI, a thoracic, aka pulmonary ultrasound offers valuable diagnostic information the following conditions affecting the lungs and pleural space:
While the above list reflects some of the more common reasons for a thoracic ultrasound, this type of diagnostic test may also be performed to view and assess other areas with the chest containing the heart, esophagus, lymph nodes, and additional structures. In some cases, a thoracic ultrasound is used for precise visualization as guided instruments remove excess fluids or perform a biopsy of the chest tissue.
How is a thoracic ultrasound performed?
An ultrasound is a non-invasive and painless procedure that uses sound waves to produce images of structures within the body. As with all other ultrasound procedures, the first step involves applying gel to the skin overlying the area to be examined. Then a wand-like transducer, which emits sound waves, is gently glided over the skin. Because sound waves travel at varying speeds depending on what they encounter, the reflected waves can be translated into a precise diagnostic image.
Your trusted partner in care
As skilled and experienced providers of care, our office will explain what to expect during the procedure and carefully review the findings of your diagnostic tests. At North Jersey Pulmonary Associates, your care and comfort are our top priorities. We’re always available to answer every question and concern and remain by your side every step of the way.
Also known as a transbronchial biopsy, a lung biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a bronchoscope to collect tissue samples from the lungs.
Our team at North Jersey Pulmonary Associates examines these samples in order to determine whether cancer is present and if so, how far it has spread.
You will first be given IV sedation and a numbing agent in the throat to prevent gagging.
Once numb, the bronchoscope is inserted into the nose or mouth and fed down to the airways.
The doctor is then guided by imaging to get the bronchoscope to the right place.
The bronchoscope contains a tiny light and camera for us to see inside the lung. It also has small forceps that are employed to collect tissue samples.
The bronchoscope is then removed. The samples that have been collected are sent for pathologic and microscopic evaluation.
Patients remain in observation and recovery for a few hours while the numbing agent wears off to ensure that the gag reflex goes back to normal. You may experience a scratchy throat or some hoarseness for a few days.
Learn more here or call our office at (973) 987-6771.
The specialists at North Jersey Pulmonary Associates may recommend a 6 minute Walk Test in order to evaluate your level fitness and how your body functions. We use this test to help us gage your ability to exercise.
Oftentimes, this test is recommended to monitor a patient's response to heart and lung treatments and is used for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Interstitial Lung Disease or Pulmonary Hypertension. It may also be used to evaluate people before a lung transplantation.
To learn more about the Walk Test, please call our office at (973) 987-6771.
Leaders in Remote Patient Care
North Jersey Pulmonary Associates is proud to be the first practice in New Jersey to offer Spire
Health’s Remote Patient Monitoring System. The patient-friendly wearable sensors help us to
monitor your breathing, pulse rate, and activity levels continuously from the comfort of your
home. Using this technology, our team is able to keep a close on you and identify any changes
in your health sooner so we can create a proactive and personalized treatment plan. Our remote
patient monitoring program is one of the many ways we are striving to provide the highest
quality and most comprehensive care for our patients. To learn more about our remote
monitoring program, call us at (973) 321-1670!
What are the benefits of Remote Patient Monitoring?
Remote Patient Monitoring helps your doctor continuously monitor your health so we can
identify changes sooner, often before you even begin to feel sick. This system helps us see how
you are doing in between visits to our office. If we detect any changes, we can take a proactive
approach to your care in an effort to prevent you from getting any worse. Many of our patients
on the service have told us they have peace of mind knowing we are keeping a close eye on
them. They appreciate that we are checking in on them frequently and take comfort in knowing
that if we see any cause for concern we will reach out to determine next steps.
What comes with the Remote Patient Monitoring program?
When you enroll in our Remote Patient Monitoring program, you will receive a pack of Health
Tag sensors as well as a Home Hub. Each sensor attaches to one article of clothing you wear
most frequently and collects your breathing, pulse rate, and activity information. The Home Hub
is plugged into the wall in a room you use often and automatically transfers your health data to
your care team. We've chosen this remote monitoring solution because it does not require any
daily interaction from you. All you have to do is wear your clothing with the Health Tag attached
as normal.
What are Health Tags?
Health Tags are small sensors, about the size of a raffle ticket, that attach to the clothes you
wear most frequently (underwear, bra, or pajamas). They monitor your breathing patterns, pulse
rate, and activity levels automatically. This means that as long as you are wearing your clothing
with the Health Tag attached, we will be able to keep an eye on your health.
What do I have to do with the Health Tags?
All you have to do is attach the Health Tags to the articles of your clothing you wear most
frequently (underwear, bra, or pajamas). That’s it, there is no daily interaction needed. The
Health Tags can be washed and dried while attached to your clothing, you do not need to
charge the Health Tags or replace batteries, and they last for up to one year.
Who is seeing my data?
Your data is shared through a HIPAA compliant dashboard with the NJPA team. Spire Health
uses advanced data protection tools to ensure all of your data is safe.
What happens if you see something in my data?
If we are notified of any changes in your condition, our team will give you a call and ask you
some questions to assess your health. Should we feel it necessary, we will create a treatment
plan which may include a visit to your doctor or telehealth appointment.
Is this covered by my insurance?
Remote patient monitoring is covered by Medicare and most Commercial plans. We would be
happy to review your specific insurance coverage to determine if you are eligible.
How do I get enrolled?
We have partnered with Spire Health to help us enroll and set up patients onto the service. If
you are interested or have any additional questions, please give us a call at: (973) 321-1670