Dr. Edgar Selaudin Bekteshi

Pulmonology is the study of the pulmonary system and its associated organs. It is a subspecialty of internal medicine that focuses on diseases of the respiratory system, specifically the lungs and the pulmonary circulation, bronchial tubes, upper respiratory tract (nose, pharynx and throat) and heart. Pulmonologists are specially trained in diseases of the respiratory system (chest), such as chronic asthma, chronic bronchitis, mesothelioma, pneumonia, tuberculosis, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), emphysema, AIDS-related pulmonary complications, and complicated chest infections. A pulmonologist cares for patients with complex pulmonary problems that may not be managed by a general internist. They often function as critical care physicians. Pulmonologists typically evaluate patients before major surgeries, which are typically performed by thoracic surgeons. However, pulmonologists perform specialized surgical procedures, such as lung biopsies, bronchoscopy, intubation, and cricothyrotomy. A pulmonologist completes medical school and at least three years of post-graduate training in internal medical, followed by 2-3 years of pulmonology and critical care fellowship training.