Barnes-Jewish Hospital, in partnership with lung specialists at Washington University School of Medicine, stands committed to providing patients with useful, up-to-date information about lung disease and its treatment. The Barnes-Jewish Hospital pulmonary program is known for its team approach to compassionate, expert care. Physicians and staff members from various disciplines work together, providing the latest clinical expertise. Each year, more than 10,000 patients and 5,000 outpatients come to Barnes-Jewish Hospital to receive the best in lung disease care.

Respiratory services at Barnes-Jewish Hospital is consistently ranked among the nation's elite by U.S. News & World Report.

Barnes-Jewish Hospital offers advanced lung services to treat the full range of lung disease, including:

Adult Cystic Fibrosis
Allergies & Immunology
Asthma
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Emphysema
Lung Cancer
Lung Transplantation
Lung Volume Reduction
Occupational Lung Disease
Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary Indeterminate Nodules
Tuberculosis

 

In addition, the thoracic surgeons at Barnes-Jewish Hospital are at the leading edge of other pulmonary-related procedures:

• Reflux Conditions: Barnes-Jewish Hospital is a referral center for complex anti-reflux surgery in the small percentages of patients who are not eligible for laparoscopic procedures. Thoracic surgeons perform a collis gastroplasty an esophageal lengthening procedure, and combine that with an anti-reflux operation; the results have been excellent.


• Swallowing Disorders: Washington University surgeons are expert at evaluating swallowing disorders, drawing on the resources of their own Esophageal Motility Laboratory.


• Malignant and Benign Tracheal Strictures: Surgery is available for patients with malignant strictures. Patients who have had tracheal injuries due to trauma or intubation often develop benign strictures, which surgeons are able to treat successfully.


• Photodynamic Therapy: For malignancies of the esophagus or the trachea and bronchi, photodynamic therapy is available. This minimally invasive procedure destroys living cells with the help of laser light, without causing damage to the surrounding tissue.


• Myasthenia Gravis: For patients with myasthenia gravis, a disease that involves fluctuating levels of weakness of commonly used muscles, Barnes-Jewish Hospital is a national referral center for transcervical thymectomy, a minimally invasive procedure developed here. In contrast to the procedure used by most other groups, Washington University surgeons remove the thymus through a tiny incision in the patient’s neck. Patients usually go home the next day and return to their full activities within a few days.

The lung services team is proud of its reputation in the area of pulmonary medicine and thoracic surgery, particularly of its national ranking for respiratory care according to U.S. News & World Report and numerous physicians listed in America’s Top Doctors.

The medical staff has available the finest and most modern facilities:

• A dedicated thoracic surgery unit and cardiothoracic ICU
• Long-term acute care services (LTAC), which cares for respiratory failure patients
• A specialized thoracic surgical step-down unit
• A comprehensive outpatient facility, the Jacqueline Maritz Lung Center
• Two state-of-the-art medical intensive care units
• A pulmonary function laboratory, offering a wide array of testing capabilities
• Exceptional radiology services through the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology

To make an appointment with a lung specialist, call 314-TOP-DOCS (314-867-3627) or toll-free 866-867-3627.