Pulmonology

The thoracic oncology activity developed over many years represents approximately 270 new cases of thoracic cancers, mesotheliomas or thymic tumors per year.

• Patient care is provided from the moment a diagnosis is suspected, using an endoscopy platform and collaborating with the thoracic surgery and pathology departments
• Therapeutic care (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, supportive care). An experienced medical and paramedical team supports patients daily in monitoring their illness and coordinates their care within the day and week hospital as well as in the conventional inpatient pulmonology department.

Treatment decisions are made during a weekly thoracic oncology multidisciplinary team meeting involving a radiation oncologist, a radiologist, pulmonologists, a clinical research associate, a thoracic surgeon, a pathologist, and a pain management physician.

In the context of the rise of immunotherapy in lung cancer, the department participates monthly in a multidisciplinary tumor board meeting at the University Hospital of Caen dedicated to these new molecules.

The department participates in clinical research activities, including participation in national (IFCT) and international clinical research protocols, in conjunction with the clinical research center of the Caen University Hospital.

The service is a reference center for the management of thymic tumors (RCP Rythmic) and mesothelioma.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a condition characterized by elevated pressure in the pulmonary arteries, leading to shortness of breath of varying severity. The causes of pulmonary hypertension are numerous: cardiac, respiratory, vascular, or embolic.

The pulmonology department associated with the cardiology department of the Caen Normandy University Hospital is the only regional center of expertise for this disease, providing both diagnostic and therapeutic care.

The treatment of pulmonary hypertension, which is a particular rare form of pulmonary hypertension, relies on specific medical treatment that can only be delivered at the center of expertise.

The care is provided by doctors specializing in this disease within the consultation service, cardiological functional explorations (right heart catheterization, cardiac ultrasound) or hospitalization.

Patients with pulmonary hypertension can benefit from therapeutic education programs.

The pulmonology department provides care for adult patients with cystic fibrosis within the Cystic Fibrosis Resource and Competence Centre (CRCM) of the Caen Normandy University Hospital.

A multidisciplinary team (pulmonologist, coordinating nurse, dietician, social worker, physiotherapist, psychologist) provides care for these patients in all aspects, both in consultation, as well as in day hospitalization and classic hospitalization.

The pulmonology department allows the reception of patients with sensitive or multi-resistant tuberculosis, from the moment of diagnostic suspicion in order to allow the isolation of these patients in a private room, and if necessary in a negative pressure room.

Treatment initiation and initial monitoring are carried out within our department. Afterwards, discharged patients are followed up regularly by a pulmonologist in consultation.

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

The pulmonology department of the Caen Normandy University Hospital is a center of expertise for the management of rare lung diseases and participates in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with diseases such as sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis, lymphangioleiomyomatosis, lung diseases within the framework of connective tissue diseases, vasculitis, or related to environmental or drug exposures.

Specialized consultations are offered to patients referred by their general practitioner or pulmonologist.

A diagnostic or follow-up assessment can be carried out in a day hospital setting. When necessary, hospitalization will take place in a conventional unit or in the continuous care unit, particularly when the oxygen flow rates 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 management of these patients, whether they are followed at the Caen Normandy University Hospital or by private pulmonologists.

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

The pulmonology department at Caen Normandy University Hospital has a complete technical platform with 11 endoscopes (5 video endoscopes, 3 fiber optic endoscopes, 3 echendoscopes), 2 operating rooms, and 2 independent computerized endoscope decontamination circuits with electronic tracking. One morning per week is reserved for examinations under general anesthesia.

The pulmonology department provides follow-up care for patients with bronchiectasis other than cystic fibrosis.

Patients benefit from comprehensive care with outpatient follow-up, day hospital assessments and hospitalization in conventional ward in case of exacerbation.

Severe asthma is a common condition with which it is possible to live well when the treatment is appropriate.

To achieve this goal, the pulmonology department of the Caen Normandy University Hospital offers a consultation dedicated to this pathology, taking into account all its aspects (including allergology and the impact of the environment).

If further examinations are required, a day hospitalization may be scheduled before your case is reviewed by a team 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 neuromuscular pathologies competence center and the FILSAN network center of the Caen University Hospital.

Expertise in the implementation and monitoring of cough assistance treatments and non-invasive ventilation. Services provided through consultations, day hospital, and inpatient care.

In addition, we provide outpatient follow-up for tracheotomized patients.

The pulmonology department at the Caen University Hospital specializes in the management of medium to large hemoptysis thanks to a 24/7 endoscopy on-call service combined with an interventional radiology on-call service (the only one in the region) allowing for arterioembolization if necessary.

The department can also rely on the thoracic surgery department in cases of refractory hemoptysis.

Pulmonary monitoring of patients with severe respiratory failure.

Pulmonary care combining specialized respiratory monitoring, exercise rehabilitation, expertise in instrumental physiotherapy and non-invasive ventilation. Participation in the regional respiratory failure staff.

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

The pulmonology department, in conjunction with the sleep unit of the Caen Normandy University Hospital, carries out the diagnosis and treatment of patients with sleep apnea syndrome.

Respiratory polygraphy is performed overnight in a day hospital setting. The fitting of the equipment and follow-up of these patients then takes place in a pulmonology consultation.