Everything to Know About Interstitial Lung Disease
Multiple factors contribute to interstitial lung disease (ILD), a category of disorders characterised by lung atrophy. ILD is characterised by a dry cough and shortness of breath during physical activity. You should contact with India’s biggest and top interstitial lung specialist in Jaipur. Many different lung disorders that result in scarring are included under the umbrella name “interstitial lung disease” (ILD). The lungs become stiff due to scarring, making breathing difficult and transporting oxygen to the bloodstream difficult. In most cases, the lung damage caused by ILDs is permanent and worsens over time.
Why do people get ILD?
Long-term contact with carcinogenic substances like asbestos can lead to interstitial lung disease. Interstitial lung disease can be triggered by autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), sarcoidosis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are all examples of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs).
The most frequent form of ILD is hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), which can be contracted by being near pigeons, parrots, hen moulds on walls, leaking air conditioners, or air coolers with unclean old mats.
Signs and Symptoms of Interstitial Lung Disease
Constant shortness of breath is the hallmark of interstitial lung disease. Symptoms include:
- A weak immune system.
- Difficulty breathing.
- A dry cough.
- Sometimes, even weight loss.
- Walking, climbing stairs, and exercising while having trouble breathing.
- Coughing up very little sputum which can be very upsetting at times.
- Patients with sarcoidosis and connective tissue linked to ILD often experience
- Chest symptoms
- Joint aches
- Exposure to cold causes bluish fingertip colouration (Raynaud’s phenomenon). Patients with scleroderma-related interstitial lung disease experience this.
Can ILD be diagnosed, and how?
India’s biggest and top interstitial lung specialist in Jaipur can suspect ILD with a chest X-ray, spirometry, and the six-minute walk test. HRCT is a subset of CT scans that is used for confirmation.
Additional tests, such as bronchoscopy, transbronchial lung biopsies, EBUS TBNA (a specialised form of bronchoscopy that collects samples from the lymph nodes in patients with sarcoidosis), and many others, are required to categorise the various forms of ILD.
How may ILD be treated?
ILD can be one of two forms.
Steroid Responsive
The conditions of HP, ILD associated with connective tissue, and sarcoidosis all fall into this category. Steroids are effective in treating certain conditions. It’s possible to utilise certain steroid-sparing drugs as immunosuppressants. These aid in decreasing the required quantity of a drug. Some examples of immunosuppressant medications are cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, and mycophenolate mofetil.
Steroid Unresponsive
The steroid treatment does not help IPF. Both pirfenidone and nintedanib are prescribed as treatment options.
How to Tell If a Treatment Is Working?
Spirometry, diffusion studies, and the six-minute walk test are all simple diagnostic tests that can be used to track patient progress as they respond to treatment. Only after one or two years should a CT scan be redone.
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) can be diagnosed with a cryo-biopsy
Significant morbidity and mortality are linked to interstitial lung disease (ILD). Clinical history, chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), and other tests can all play a role in determining whether or not a patient has ILD. However, there is still a subset of patients for whom a definitive diagnosis remains elusive. Transbronchial lung biopsy and VATS-assisted surgical lung biopsy were the two main types of biopsies performed in the past. Blood loss, infection, and other problems are all risks connected with a transbronchial lung biopsy.
Although VATS-assisted lung biopsies are considered the gold standard, they carry risks, including infection, worsening of underlying ILD, persistent air leaks, and extended ventilation. Cryo-lung biopsy was developed in response to a need for less intrusive and safer techniques. The usual blood tests, such as a complete blood count, renal function test, and bleeding profile, would be performed before a biopsy. To rule out severe pulmonary hypertension, a 2D echocardiogram is performed first. Spirometry is another possible test. Infection with the COVID-19 RT Virus The PCR method used is determined by the COVID-19 incidence rate in the area. The patient is posted for the biopsy if all pre-op tests come back within normal ranges.
Procedure
General anaesthesia is used for the surgery. There is no need for an incision. The flexible bronchoscope is introduced through an endotracheal tube or stiff bronchoscope. An occlusion balloon is inserted to administer tamponade and stem the flow of blood. To prevent pneumothorax, a CT scan guides a series of biopsies (often 4–6). Occlusion balloons stopped the bleeding, and the c-arm helped prevent a pneumothorax.
Post-operative Course
The standard postoperative treatment is extubation on the operating table and 24-hour follow-up with the patient. A chest X-ray is taken between 4 and 6 hours after the surgery to rule out pneumothorax. The pathologist will give their findings on the biopsy within 48–72 hours. Altering your course of therapy requires a conversation with your doctor.
Conclusion
Dr. Sheetu Singh is India’s biggest and top interstitial lung specialist in Jaipur and is here to help you. Our staff of highly trained experts is devoted to giving our patients the best possible care. We have the resources to identify and treat a variety of breathing problems. If you have asthma, COPD, or any respiratory disorder, our team of experts is here to help.
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