Lung Care, from Asthma to Cancer

At The University of Arizona Health Network’s pulmonary section, we help with a wide range of lung and breathing disorders, including

• Shortness of breath
• Cough
• Asthma
• Emphysema
• Interstitial lung diseases
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Oxygen therapy
• Smoking-related lung diseases
• Lung cancer
• Pleural effusions

Our expertise includes pulmonary scopes and interventions such as

• Airway stents
• Bronchial thermoplasty
• Minimally invasive lung biopsy
• Pleuroscopy
• Right-heart catheterization for pulmonary hypertension
• Lung transplants

Pulmonary Hypertension

For high blood pressure in the lungs, which can occur on its own or with other disorders, we offer advanced diagnostics, novel treatments, education and opportunities for research participation.

Interstitial and Rheumatologic Lung Diseases

Diseases that cause fibrosis or scarring of the lungs require a team approach. Our expert physicians in this focused program work with rheumatologists and other specialists to diagnose and treat these and other complicated conditions:

• Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) or related diseases (NSIP, UIP)
• Sarcoidosis
• Berylliosis
• Lupus
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Wegener’s granulomatosis
• Scleroderma
• Sjogrens syndrome
• Eosinophilic lung disease (CEP and AEP)
• Bronchiolitis obliterans
• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
• Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

Sleep Disorders

Our highly skilled doctors, experienced technicians and helpful support staff use advanced technology to provide quality, expert treatment for a wide range of conditions, including sleep-related breathing disorders such as:

• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Central sleep apnea
• Complex sleep apnea
• Obesity hypoventilation syndrome
• Nocturnal hypoxia
• Snoring

Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology

University of Arizona’s dedicated clinic provides comprehensive evaluation and care of allergic and immunologic diseases that attack breathing function, including

• Allergic rhinitis
• Asthma
• Sinusitis
• Allergic reaction
• Immunodeficiency
• Food allergy
• Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
• Drug allergy

We also offer a coordinated approach to nasal and sinus problems in the combined Ear, Nose, Throat/Allergy clinic.

Interventional Pulmonology

Doctors use scopes instead of surgery to diagnose infections and lung cancers. You could be a candidate for these procedures if you have

• Large chest lymph nodes
• Lung spots or nodules
• Pleural disease
• Fluid around the lung.

Valley Fever

Our Valley Fever Center for Excellence addresses a disease that is most prevalent in Arizona. Two-thirds of all U.S. valley fever infections occur in our state.

Through the center, we’ve been able to increase awareness, medical care and research about this disease.

Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

Early lung cancer screenings can save lives. Are you eligible? Find out more about the new guidelines released for lung cancer screenings.

Lung Transplant Surgery

Our lung transplant team is dedicated to a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, allowing you the chance to receive the most thorough care possible.

End-stage lung disease can be caused by many different diseases. The top four diseases that indicate lung transplant are

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Cystic fibrosis

Currently, the most common indication is COPD .

Heart/Lung Transplant

Heart/lung transplantation is a procedure reserved for those patients whose lives would not be improved from a heart or lung transplant alone. These patients usually suffer from end-stage cardiopulmonary disease caused by one of the following:

• Complex congenital disease with pulmonary hypoplasia or Eisenmenger syndrome
• Primary pulmonary hypertension
• Congenital lung abnormalities
• Alpha-antitrypsin deficiency
• End-stage parenchymal lung disease.

What Sets Us Apart

• University of Arizona Health Network performed the first single-lung transplant in Arizona in 1990.
• In 1993 the University of Arizona Medical Center – University Campus also became the first hospital in Arizona to perform a double-lung transplant.
• We have been performing combination heart/lung transplants since 1985.
• As the oldest lung transplant center in Arizona, our clinical experience and expertise allows us to accept complex cases that other centers often turn down.

Evaluation Required for Consideration for Lung or Heart/Lung Transplant

Lung and heart/lung transplants are complex and in-depth procedures. At the University of Arizona Medical Center – University Campus, our interest is with you, the patient. To make sure that transplant is the very best option for you, we require specific testing.

A patient that is referred to our lung or heart/lung transplant program can expect to undergo the following procedures for transplant surgery clearance.

Required Procedures

These tests will be scheduled by your transplant coordinator and performed at the University of Arizona Medical Center – University Campus. The results may indicate further testing to verify that transplantation is the absolute best option for you as a patient. Your transplant coordinator can assist with this.