COPD (Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis)
About
Our Program
The Emphysema Program of the University of
Pennsylvania is a comprehensive clinical and
research program dedicated to the diagnosis,
management, and care of patients with emphysema.
Under the directorship of Dr. David Lipson, the
program emphasizes a multi-modality approach
for each individual patient. Optimum care provided
includes pharmacologic and respiratory therapy,
rehabilitative and nutrition services, psychosocial
counseling, and referral for surgical care, as
necessary.
The program was an active participant
in the National Emphysema Treatment Trial,
an NIH sponsored multicenter trial to study the
efficacy of lung volume reduction surgery.
The
program works closely with the Advanced Lung
Disease and Lung Transplant Program to optimize
timing and referral for lung transplantation
as another option for select patients. Research
goals of the program include novel pharmacologic
therapies and diagnostic imaging studies of
patients with obstructive lung disease.
Our goal is to help each person achieve and
maintain the best possible quality of life. To
learn more about our program, please call us
at
1-800-789-PENN (7366).
Pre-Appointment
Information
At your first appointment, the treatment
team will review your medical records.
You will need to send us or bring to the first
appointment the following:
- information about your medical history and
current condition (your doctor may write us
a letter).
- most recent pulmonary function tests and
arterial blood gases.
- pulmonary exercise test and/or 6-minute walk
test.
- most recent chest X-ray and CT scans. (Reports
of these may be sent, but in certain cases
we may request the actual films or studies.)
- echocardiogram, EKG and Dobutamine stress
thalium tests (if they have been performed).
- ventilation perfusion scan (if one has been
performed).
(NOTE: If any of the tests we need have not
been performed, please contact us before scheduling
them.)
Please forward medical records to:
Emphysema Program Coordinator
c/o Susan Metzger, MSN, RN
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
3400 Spruce Street,
825 Gates Bldg
Philadelphia, PA 19104
What
to Expect During Your Visit
During your first
visit, our physicians and nurses will:
- make an initial diagnosis or confirm your
doctor's diagnosis.
- evaluate your options for medical therapy
and make sure you have the best medications
for your condition.
- consider whether you might benefit from home
oxygen therapy or evaluate your current home
oxygen prescription and equipment.
- discuss the potential benefits of pulmonary
rehabilitation to help you increase your strength
and endurance.
- provide options for quitting smoking.
- discuss pertinent trials, including bronchoscopic
(minimally invasive) procedures for emphysema
treatment
- evaluate surgical options, including:
- Bullectomy,
the removal of individual bullae, or overinflated
air sacs.
- Lung volume reduction
surgery, a technique that removes diseased
portions of the lung to make room for the lungs
to expand.
- Lung
transplantation to improve quality of
life for patients whose condition cannot
be relieved by other courses of treatmen
Location
Hospital of the University
of Pennsylvania
3400 Spruce Street
3 Ravdin, Suite F
Philadelphia, PA 19104
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