Respiratory Medicine

What Is Respiratory Medicine?

Respiratory medicine (pulmonology) is a medical specialty that diagnoses, treats, and manages respiratory or lung-related conditions.

Common Respiratory or Lung-Related Conditions We Treat

Our respiratory medicine specialists diagnose and manage a wide range of lung and breathing conditions, including:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

• Asthma

• Interstitial lung diseases (includes idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, etc.)

• Lung cancer

• Pulmonary infections (e.g., pneumonia, tuberculosis)

• Sleep-related breathing disorders, including obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)

• Occupational lung diseases

• Allergic respiratory disorders

• Cystic fibrosis

• Pulmonary hypertension

• Respiratory complications of systemic diseases

When to See a Respiratory Medicine Specialist

You may be referred to a respiratory medicine specialist if you have ongoing or unexplained symptoms such as:

• Persistent cough

• Shortness of breath

• Wheezing

• Chest pain

• Frequent respiratory infections, for example pneumonia, bronchitis or sinusitis

• Chronic phlegm production

• Fatigue and reduced exercise tolerance

• Allergy-related symptoms affecting breathing

• Sleep-related breathing conditions, for example loud snoring, pauses in breathing during sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, or morning headaches

• Occupational or environmental exposures to respiratory hazards

If these symptoms are interfering with your daily life, a respiratory assessment can help identify the cause and prevent complications.

Respiratory Tests & Procedures We Offer

Depending on your condition and clinical needs, each procedure is carefully recommended by our lung specialists to help assess, monitor, or treat respiratory conditions, ensuring you receive appropriate, safe, and personalised care at every stage of treatment.

Diagnostic Tests

• Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs): Spirometry (measures lung capacity and airflow), diffusion capacity (DLCO), and respiratory-muscle strength assessment

• Sleep Studies: Polysomnography and partial sleep studies for conditions such as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)

• Bronchoscopy: A procedure that uses a thin, flexible tube with a camera to visualise airways for diagnosis and selected treatments

• Lung Biopsy: Lung tissue sampling to assess lung diseases, nodules or masses

Imaging

• Chest Radiography (X-ray): Overview of lungs and surrounding structures

• Computed Tomography (CT) Scan: Detailed cross-sectional images for clearer visualisation of abnormalities

Procedures & Interventions

• Thoracentesis: Drains fluid or air from the pleural space surrounding the lungs to relieve symptoms and aid diagnosis

• Bronchial Thermoplasty: Controlled heat applied to airway walls to reduce smooth muscle in severe asthma

Therapies & Programmes

• Nebuliser Therapy: A type of inhalation therapy that delivers medication directly to the lungs in the form of a fine mist, aiding in the management of respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

• Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Exercise, education, and support to improve lung function, reduce symptoms, and enhance overall quality of life for individuals with chronic lung disease

Why Choose Prince Court Medical Centre for Respiratory Care

Multidisciplinary Team and Specialist Expertise

We stay at the forefront of respiratory medicine by adopting the latest research and treatment modalities. Our team works closely with pulmonologists, allergists, thoracic surgeons, radiologists, physiotherapists, and sleep specialists to coordinate complex care. This collaborative approach enables us to:

• Develop personalised treatment plans

• Coordinate care across specialties

• Address complex or overlapping conditions more effectively

Comprehensive, Advanced Services

Our Respiratory Clinics are equipped to provide comprehensive lung assessment to tailor treatment to your needs, including:

• Pulmonary function tests: Spirometry with reversibility, body plethysmography, diffusion capacity (DLCO), respiratory-muscle strength.

• Airway inflammation and blood gases: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), arterial blood gas analysis.

• Functional assessment: Six-minute walk test (6MWT), fitness-for-surgery respiratory evaluation.

• Sleep services: Polysomnography and CPAP titration for diagnosing and managing sleep-related breathing disorders.

• Paediatric and adult care: Age-appropriate assessment and management, including paediatric respiratory expertise.

To support accurate diagnosing and staging, we offer advanced diagnostic and interventional chest radiology services to ensure accurate and comprehensive evaluations. These services include:

• Imaging: Chest radiography (X-ray), high-resolution CT (HRCT), MRI, PET, PET-CT, ultrasound (US), CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA).

• Image-guided procedures: CT-guided lung biopsy, US-guided lung biopsy.

Respiratory hygiene and airway clearance therapies to optimise airflow and symptom control are provided for both inpatients and outpatients. These services include bronchial suctioning, bronchial washing, chest physiotherapy, and nebuliser therapy.

Patient education is a key part of our approach. Our specialists provide hands-on coaching to ensure correct inhaler technique, maximising the benefit of your medication while reducing side effects. Our team assesses and supports the use of a wide range of devices, with or without spacer systems.

Our Commitment to Your Respiratory Health

At Prince Court Medical Centre, our goal is not just to treat respiratory conditions, but to help you breathe better and live more comfortably. With specialist expertise, advanced diagnostics, and a patient-focused approach, we provide care that is thorough, thoughtful, and tailored to your needs.