Introduction Thoracoscopy, video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), medical thoracoscopy (MT), and pleuroscopy are minimally invasive procedures that provide access to the pleural space. They differ only in the approach to anesthesia….

Introduction Since its discovery in 1876, bronchoscopy has served a fundamental role in the diagnosis and management of pulmonary disease. Over the past few decades, the therapeutic capabilities of bronchoscopy…

Chest Tubes Definition Tube thoracostomy has been described since antiquity, with the earliest accounts of using a tube for drainage of empyema from the pleural cavity from Hippocrates. Original chest…

Introduction Tracheostomy is derived from the Latin words “trachea arteria” and “ostium,” which means “creating an opening in the trachea.” The earliest documentation of tracheostomy is a description of the…

Introduction Central airway obstruction (CAO) is the narrowing of central airways (trachea, mainstem bronchi, and bronchus intermedius) due to benign and malignant diseases. In this chapter we focus on CAO…

Introduction The goal of this chapter is to provide an effective, systematic, multimodality bronchoscopic approach to the problem of malignant airway obstruction that facilitates proper integration of all of the…

Introduction Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) causes considerable morbidity, mortality, and health care expenditure both in the United States and globally. For COPD patients with burdensome symptoms despite standard medical…

Introduction Asthma affects over 300 million people throughout the world, with a high burden of morbidity and mortality. According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, approximately 250, 000 people die…

Introduction An airway stent is a hollow prosthesis that maintains airway patency and provides structural support. Stent deployment is an integral skill for an interventional pulmonologist. The indications and selection…