Pulmonary/Sleep Medicine
Pulmonary/Sleep medicine is the specialty that deals with diseases of the respiratory
tract and respiratory diseases that can disrupt a patient's life. It is generally
considered a branch of internal medicine, although it is closely related to intensive
care or critical care medicine when dealing with patients requiring mechanical ventilation.
Sleep medicine is the specialty that deals with diseases disturbing restful sleep
patterns. Patients First Washington campus has a sleep disorders center on the 2nd
floor in which diagnostic sleep testing can be performed and interpreted.
Experts in pulmonary and critical care medicine provide consultative, diagnostic
and therapeutic services for patients with illnesses that affect the lungs and breathing.
Pulmonary and critical care specialists have expertise in a range of respiratory conditions including, but not limited to:
- Lung cancer
- Lung diseases
- Asthma
- COPD
- Emphysema
- Interstitial lung disease
- Pulmonary vascular disease including pulmonary hypertension
- Pulmonary embolism
- Respiratory failure
- Lung infections
- Cystic fibrosis
- Sarcoidosis
- Pleural effusions
- Pneumonia
- Tuberculosis
- Fungal infections
Sleep Medicine specialists can treat many conditions including the following sleep disorders:
- Sleep apnea
- Insomnia
- Restless leg syndrome
- Narcolepsy
- Parasomnia
Diagnostic testing available includes:
- Pulmonary functions tests (spirometry, lung volumes DLco, bronchial challenge test)
- Methalcholine challenge
- Fiber optic bronchoscopy
- Thoracentisis
- Pulse Oximetry (resting, ambulatory and nocturnal)
- Sleep disorder evaluations (sleep study, multiple sleep latency test, maintenance of wakefulness test, actigraphy, c-pap titration)
- Arterial blood gas
Patients First offers a Sleep Disorders Center on the second floor of the Washington,
Missouri campus. Most diagnostic testing is available in Washington as well.
Locations and Providers