Pulmonologists in Portsmouth

At Portsmouth Regional Hospital, our respiratory care program provides accurate diagnosis and compassionate, effective treatment for people who experience acute and chronic lung conditions.

Our team of pulmonary care professionals works with you to create a personalized plan for your long-term well-being. We help you get and stay healthy through:

  • Education about your specific condition
  • Encouraging positive lifestyle changes
  • Smoking cessation resources
  • Access to the latest treatments and available therapies
  • Prescribing effective medications
  • Creating an individual therapy program

Lung conditions we treat

We offer multidisciplinary care for lung and thoracic conditions. Our highly skilled specialists assess and treat:

  • Lung cancer
  • Bronchitis
  • Emphysema
  • Asthma
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Interstitial lung diseases that promote fiber growth in the lungs, such as sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis and cystic fibrosis
  • Thoracic outlet syndrome
  • Benign or malignant lung disease
  • Benign or malignant esophageal disease, including swallowing disorders or reflux disease
  • Thoracic trauma
  • Pleural disease
  • Blood vessel abnormalities in the chest cavity
  • Acute and chronic infectious diseases of the chest, such as tuberculosis and histoplasmosis

Lung cancer care

Our team wants to help protect your health. Our cancer care team recommends lung cancer screenings for patients who are current or former smokers and are between 55 and 75 years old.

Lung and thoracic surgery

Our thoracoscopic surgical procedures mean significantly smaller incisions, greater precision and dexterity, as well as improved views of internal organs for your surgeon, so you're more likely to recover faster and enjoy better long-term results.

Your options for lung and thoracic surgery include:

  • Video-assisted thoracic surgery
  • Lobectomy (lung lobe removal)
  • Segmentectomy (removes part of an organ, gland or tumor and surrounding tissue)
  • Lung biopsy (retrieves sample of lung cells for examination)
  • Mediastinoscopy and mediastinal surgery (examines center part of the chest cavity)
  • Endobronchial ultrasound (determines lymph node involvement in lung cancer)
  • Pericardial window (drains fluid from the membrane surrounding the heart)
  • Chest wall resection
  • Esophageal procedures (treats both benign and malignant tumors)

Pulmonary treatments and technology

We go above and beyond standard fixes to provide you with effective, long-term respiratory care solutions. Whether you need services as an inpatient or an outpatient, you benefit from a wide variety of diagnostic and treatment options using the latest technology.

Bronchoscopy

A bronchoscopy is a visual examination of the air passages leading into the lungs using a bronchoscope—a long, thin, flexible tube with a camera on the tip. Bronchoscopies are used to diagnose and treat conditions involving the lungs and trachea, including bleeding, difficulty breathing, chest pain or obstructions the airway.

You may also be a candidate for endobronchial ultrasound, an alternative to surgery, used to diagnose lung infections, lung cancer and other diseases that enlarge the lymph nodes in the chest.

Pulmonary function testing

Our pulmonary function testing includes diagnostic assessments to measure lung capacity and flow rates of oxygen, carbon dioxide and other gases and determine how gases are exchanged in the lungs. These breathing tests help physicians see how well your lungs function.

We offer a full range of pulmonary testing, including:

  • Spirometry—Evaluates functional lung capacity compared to normal capacity
  • Lung volume measurement—Determines total lung size to help distinguish among types of lung disease
  • Diffusion study—Evaluates the ability of the lungs to move oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the blood
  • Methacholine/bronchial challenge—Aids in diagnosis of reactive airway disease, which may occur after exposure to high levels of an irritating vapor, with symptoms such as wheezing and allergic reactions

Asthma treatment

Asthma, a chronic condition that narrows the lung's airways or tubes, makes breathing difficult. When you come to the ER at Portsmouth Regional Hospital with an asthma attack, we determine your peak airflow and provide appropriate treatments, typically with bronchodilators, steroids or other medications.

Accredited Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program

Pulmonary rehabilitation helps you maximize your quality of life by learning to manage lung conditions. Take advantage of Second Wind, Portsmouth Regional Hospital's pulmonary rehabilitation program. Our program is accredited by the American Academy of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and recognized by the American Thoracic Society as the standard of care for moderate to severe lung disease.

Second Wind take place at our Center for Rehabilitation & Wellness at 155 Borthwick Ave. at the west entrance.

For more information about our Second Wind rehab program, call (603) 433-4895.

Our multispecialty team of professionals evaluates your needs and tailors a pulmonary therapy program to fit your specific situation—improving your ability to breathe easier each day. Because inactivity can worsen breathing issues, exercise is a key component of the program. We monitor your health and offer support, education and resources to help you:

  • Exercise safely and improve upper body strength
  • Learn techniques for more comfortable breathing
  • Conserve your energy
  • Take your medication and use oxygen effectively
  • Improve your overall nutrition, self-esteem and level of independence
  • Stop smoking
  • Reduce anxiety, depression and the need for hospitalization
  • Enhance your range of daily activity and quality of life

Pulmonary rehabilitation program details

Our pulmonary rehabilitation program meets for two hours each Tuesday and Thursday for nine weeks. Program components include supervised exercise and education on pulmonary care and overall health topics. Family members are encouraged to attend education sessions with you.

Before you can begin, you may need a breathing test. We'll schedule you for an assessment and orientation session, including a supervised walk test, to help us establish your eligibility and identify your specific needs. At the end of the program, you'll repeat the health assessment and supervised walk test to measure your improvement.

Many insurance carriers cover the cost of pulmonary services. You may be responsible for a copayment. Review your policy or ask your insurance company about pre-program certification and/or reimbursement.

Our program fee includes interval training, education, oxygen saturation monitoring and the personal attention of our expert staff. If you're eligible for Medicare, a percentage of the cost is covered.

Lung health maintenance program

Make continual improvement to your lung healthy by participating in our self-pay maintenance program. Graduates of Second Wind receive the first month free. Depending on the number of visits, your program cost may be between $20 and $40 per month. You can choose from eight maintenance classes each week, including supervised open exercise time or a supervised exercise hour.