The Respiratory Unit cares for patients with breathing problems, lung disease, cancer, emphysema, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other respiratory disorders.
In the unit respiratory consultations are done in addition to testing of lung function using spirometry, and diagnostic procedures including bronchoscopies- the direct visual inspection of the airways and the lungs, and thoracentesis which is the removal of fluid that is located in pockets outside of the lung.
The use of lung function testing is considered the standard of care, for the diagnosis and monitoring of lung function in patients with chronic respiratory illnesses including asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) and interstitial lung diseases. It is especially valuable in cases in which patients may be unable to detect deterioration in their respiratory status or an unexplained deterioration has occurred and provides an objective measure of lung function, which may be followed over time.
For patients with unexplained shortness of breath, dynamic testing using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is also conducted in the respiratory unit.
The Respiratory Unit also conducts testing requested through referrals from physicians in both the public and private sector.