Pulmonology

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a disease characterized by increased pressure in the pulmonary arteries causing shortness of breath, the intensity of which can vary. The causes of pulmonary hypertension are multiple: cardiac, respiratory, vascular or embolic.

The pulmonology department associated with the cardiology department of the CHU Caen Normandie is the only regional competence center for this disease providing both diagnostic and therapeutic care.

The treatment of pulmonary hypertension, which is a particularly rare form of pulmonary hypertension, is based on specific medical treatment which can only be delivered in the competence center.

The management is carried out by doctors specialized in this disease within the consultation service, functional cardiological explorations (right heart catheterization, echocardiography) or hospitalization.

Patients can benefit from a therapeutic education program in the event of pulmonary hypertension.

The pulmonology department provides care for adult patients with cystic fibrosis at the Center for Resources and Skills for Cystic Fibrosis ( CRCM ) of the CHU Caen Normandie.

A multidisciplinary team (pulmonologist, coordinating nurse, dietician, social worker, physiotherapist, psychologist) ensures the care of these patients in all its aspects, both in consultation, day hospitalization and traditional hospitalization.

The pneumology department allows the reception of patients with sensitive or multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, as soon as the diagnosis is suspected in order to allow the isolation of these patients in a private room, and if necessary in a negative pressure room.

The initiation of the treatment is carried out within our department as well as the initial monitoring. Then, outgoing patients are regularly followed by a pulmonologist in consultation.

In addition, Professor Emmanuel Bergot is in charge of the tuberculosis consultation of the Center for the Prevention of Infectious Diseases (CPMI) intended for the screening of contact subjects throughout the Calvados department, and located within the Clinique de la Miséricorde (Caen ).

The pulmonology department of CHU Caen Normandie is a competence center for the management of rare pulmonary diseases and participates in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with diseases such as sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis, lymphangioleiomyomatosis, pulmonary pathologies entering in the context of connectivitis, vasculitis, or related to environmental or drug exposure.

Specialized consultations are offered to patients referred by their attending physician or pulmonologist.

A diagnostic or follow-up assessment can be carried out in a day hospital. When necessary, hospitalization will take place in a conventional unit or in the continuous care unit, in particular when the oxygen flows delivered are high and may require high-flow equipment.

As an expert center in this field, the service offers monthly Multidisciplinary Discussions (MDD) to discuss the care of these patients, whether they are followed at the CHU Caen Normandie or by independent pulmonologists.

Finally, innovative therapies are prescribed to patients according to their indications and research protocols are also proposed.

The CHU Caen Normandie pneumology department has 1 complete technical platform with 11 endoscopes (5 videoendoscopes, 3 fiber optics, 3 echendoscopes) , 2 operating rooms, 2 independent computerized endoscope decontamination circuits with computer traceability. One morning per week is reserved for examinations under general anesthesia.

The pulmonology department monitors patients with bronchial dilatations other than cystic fibrosis.

Patients benefit from comprehensive care with outpatient follow-up, day hospital check-ups and hospitalization in the conventional sector in the event of an exacerbation.

Severe asthma is a frequent pathology with which it is possible to live well when the treatment is adapted.

To achieve this objective, the CHU Caen Normandie pneumology department offers a consultation dedicated to this pathology taking into account all its aspects (in particular allergology and the impact of the environment) .

If additional examinations are necessary, day hospitalization can be scheduled before your file is discussed again in a collegial manner and optimal care is offered to you.

New treatments are coming onto the market but they require a prescription and hospital monitoring.

The pulmonology department participates in the multidisciplinary follow-up of patients within the center of competence for neuromuscular pathologies and the center of the FILSAN sector of the CHU de Caen.

Expertise in setting up and monitoring cough-aid and non-invasive ventilation treatments. Support in consultation, day and week hospital.

In addition, we provide follow-up for tracheostomized patients on an outpatient basis.

The pulmonology department of Caen University Hospital specializes in the management of moderate to high-abundance hemoptysis thanks to 24-hour endoscopy on-call duty associated with interventional radiology on-call duty (the only one in the region) allowing the performance if this is necessary, arterioembolization.

The service can also rely on the thoracic surgery service in the event of refractory haemoptysis.

Pulmonological monitoring of patients with severe respiratory failure.

Pneumological care combining specialized respiratory monitoring, exercise retraining, expertise in instrumental physiotherapy and NIV. Participation in the regional respiratory failure staff.

Management of comorbidities in a multidisciplinary manner in conjunction with the nutrition and cardiology departments, the spine institute, and the functional rehabilitation department.

The pulmonology department carries out, in conjunction with the sleep unit of the CHU Caen Normandie, the diagnosis and management of patients with sleep apnea syndrome.

Ventilatory polygraphy is performed overnight in a day hospital. The fitting and follow-up of these patients is then done in a pulmonology consultation.