Interventional Pulmonology Unit

Interventional pulmonology is a branch of medicine that focuses on diagnostic and therapeutic procedures involving penetration into the lung tissue. 

In the Interventional Pulmonology Unit, we specialize in performing endoscopic operations using a flexible bronchoscope, as well as utilizing ultrasonic technology (ultrasound) and a combination of both (EBUS). For the treatment of complex patients, our team collaborates with other departments such as thoracic surgery, otolaryngology, and invasive chest radiology as needed. In addition, we conduct diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for diseases of the lung membrane, specifically the pleura.

The main complaint that requires an invasive examination of the lungs is shortness of breath, caused by a disease in the airways (obstruction), lung tissue, or lung membrane (pleura). 

Patients are admitted to the unit with the following diagnoses: enlarged lymph nodes near or at the entrances of the lungs in imaging tests; fluid/air in pleural cavity; Cancer affecting the central airways; Inflammatory/infectious lung conditions that haven't improved after treatment in the community; Diaphragmatic diseases prior to fitting a non-invasive ventilator.

Academic and research activity

The Interventional Pulmonology Unit is part of the Institute of Lung Diseases at Sheba, affiliated to the School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University. Our unit's staff participates in the study programs of medical students and students from the nursing school named after "Ziva Tal".  As part of the hospital's POCUS program, the unit is responsible for training medical teams in the use of ultrasound technology in lung diseases, particulalry pleura.

The unit hosted the inaugural conference in Israel on the diagnosis and treatment of pleurodiseases in 2017, in collaboration with the esteemed Johns Hopkins Medical Center from the USA.  In 2019, another prestigious conference took place, featuring distinguished guests from England (check out the conference photos below). Our team maintains strong connections with colleagues from renowned institutions such as Beit Israel and Johns Hopkins in the USA, as well as Oxford and Cambridge in England.

Dr. Shulimzon , the chairman of the scientific committee of the Association for Pulmonary Medicine in Israel, authored the guidelines for performing bronchoscopy with a flexible device on elderly patients in Israel. Dr. Chatterji has pioneered teaching methods for chest ultrasound (www.camtutor.org.uk) and diagnostic/therapeutic procedures for pleural diseases (www.easternchestdrain-course.co.uk). He oversees the POCUS program unit.

The unit is an active research partner with Tel Aviv University and the Weizmann Institute in the fields of: tissue engineering; Endomicroscopy - the only use in Israel of Confocal Microscopy technology; Pleural fluid as biomarker of various lung diseases; New technologies for the treatment of various lung diseases, mainly in respiratory diseases, such as asthma and pulmonary emphysema.

In recent years, Dr. Shulimzon has been at the forefront of repair and regenerative medicine, driving innovation in Sheba's medical program. Dr. Chatterji is currently researching the use of virtual reality imaging to enhance the accuracy of lung disease diagnoses.