UPMC Pinnacle West Shore is elevating its level of care by expanding services for optimal lung function and disease management. These local pulmonary and thoracic medicine experts are leading the way to help diagnose and treat a variety of lung diseases and respiratory conditions.

Here, pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, and respiratory therapists work together to provide patients an individualized treatment plan. Equipped with the latest in diagnostic technology and high-end treatment techniques, the center gives patients access to comprehensive lung care closer to home, right in their own community. The center combines pulmonary diagnostics, pulmonary nodule clinic, pulmonology, oncology, and thoracic surgery in one location for patient convenience.

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Early Diagnosis Can Deliver a Successful Prognosis

By using sophisticated technology to ensure an accurate and complete diagnosis, UPMC Pinnacle West Shore is the first hospital in the region to use the Ion® robotic bronchoscopy system. This lung biopsy technique diagnoses lung cancer in its earliest stage. The advanced technology uses minimally invasive endoscopy, which allows for increased accuracy, reach, and patient safety in examining small and hard-to-reach lung nodules.

“West Shore continues to set the bar for advances in thoracic surgery in our region,” says Troy Moritz, DO, FACOS, chief of thoracic surgery at UPMC Pinnacle West Shore. “With the addition of robotic bronchoscopy, we have an enhanced and more precise diagnostic ability, as well as being positioned for therapeutic intervention of small, early-stage lung cancers.”

Since the debut of the first fully robotic esophagectomy only a few months ago and the first robotic bronchoscopy technology now, UPMC continues to fulfill its commitment to the community by providing world-class, cutting-edge care right here in central Pennsylvania.

Looking Far and Wide

The robotic bronchoscope uses a tiny camera and “shape sensing” technology, which allows doctors to drive far out into the lung. Once there, they can perform a variety of biopsy techniques to diagnose a patient with a lung nodule.

“In the very near future, we can couple this with the advanced technology of a hybrid operating room imaging for location confirmation,” says Dr. Moritz. “In doing so, we will have the advantage of performing a tumor ablation (a form of tumor destruction) at the same time.”

UPMC Pinnacle West Shore offers a comprehensive service line of thoracic surgery and pulmonary medicine across the continuum of care – from early lung cancer screening, pulmonary nodule management, and multidisciplinary cancer care with exceptional surgical outcomes, to ongoing surveillance, rehabilitation services, and survivorship. Additionally, West Shore’s lung cancer surgery program is recognized nationally as providing excellent lung cancer surgical care.

Collaborative Care Closer to Home

Combining the resources available at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at Rocco and Nancy Ortenzio Cancer Pavilion gives patients access to more oncology services— including leading-edge clinical trials,—than anywhere else in the region.

“These important relationships have continued to allow us to provide the best thoracic surgical care to our patients right here at home, which happens to be my home, too. Simply put, it matters to us that we do it right,” says Dr. Moritz.

If you suffer from any of the following conditions, visit our website at UPMC.com/WestShoreLung for more information about scheduling an appointment or talk to your primary care provider about a referral.

  • Asthma
  • Chest tumors
  • Chronic bronchitis
  • Chronic pleural effusion
  • COPD (Chronic obstructive lung disease)
  • Emphysema
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Pneumonia
  • Tuberculosis

Ion® is a trademark of Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.

About Pulmonology

For people with breathing problems, allergies, and other lung conditions or diseases, UPMC’s pulmonary experts can help. Our Comprehensive Lung Center provides cutting-edge diagnosis and treatment for diseases of the respiratory and pulmonary systems, whether the condition is acute or chronic. We also operate specialty centers for cystic fibrosis, asthma, COPD and emphysema, pulmonary hypertension, lung transplants, interstitial lung diseases, and sleep disorders. Find an expert near you.

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