Pulmonology Unit

The most important activity of the Pulmonology Unit, aimed at hospitalized patients, is the clinical evaluation of patients suffering from lung and thoracic tumors who are candidates for thoracotomy and/or pulmonary resection to assess the risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality.

The evaluation of respiratory conditions is based on spirometry, which is used to study static and dynamic lung volumes, and the determination of the alveolar-capillary diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide, which is used to study the pulmonary interstitium.

High-risk patients are also subjected to symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing, which measures maximum oxygen consumption and determines the anaerobic threshold, cardiac output, and cardiac index.

The Pulmonology Unit also ensures postoperative monitoring of pulmonary function and clinical care for patients undergoing pulmonary resection and those with other oncological diseases affected by pulmonary and bronchial infections.

Another activity concerns monitoring pulmonary function in patients undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy treatments known for their potential toxicity, including at the pulmonary level.

Regarding outpatients, the Pulmonology Unit conducts clinical and pulmonary functional evaluation activities, paying particular attention to cancer patients already under treatment at the Institute to ensure adequate continuity of care.

Ample space is also dedicated to diagnostic and therapeutic activity in the field of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, asthma, interstitial lung diseases, including pulmonary sarcoidosis, and, more generally, pulmonary complications related to cigarette smoking.

At the anti-smoking center, outpatient visits are conducted three afternoons a week, by telephone appointment and with a referral form completed by the family doctor for "prima visita pneumologica" with the diagnostic question "percorso antifumo”. In our anti-smoking center (more than 6000 patients have taken charge in these years of activity), active smokers and passive smokers (i.e., all those who are forced to live in enclosed environments with active smokers) can access the service. 

Active smokers are administered two questionnaires: the first to assess nicotine dependence (called the Fagerström Test), and the second to specify the degree of motivation to undertake the smoking cessation pathway (the one from the Hospital Mondor in Paris is used). 

This is to direct the user toward the most appropriate therapy, whether pharmacological (nicotine replacement therapy and/or bupropion or cytisine) or individual psychological therapy. After 6 and 12 months, a pulmonology check-up and measurement of exhaled carbon monoxide are performed outpatient. 
Telephone counseling support (with seven calls per patient) is provided for all active smokers.