Frequently Asked Questions

General chest medicine is often used to treat common respiratory diseases such as Asthma or COPD, Bronchitis without surgery, using standard inhalers and medications. On the other hand, Advanced Pulmonology includes Interventional Pulmonology (IP), a specialty that uses minimally invasive endoscopic methods to treat complex cases. It is a field that connects medicine with thoracic surgery. Thus, an Interventional Pulmonologist at Yashoda Medicit can perform internal lung repairs, tumor debulking, and stent placements, which are beyond the scope of traditional chest medicine.

Dr. Ankit Bhatia is the leading figure in overseeing a wide spectrum of intricate respiratory disorders.
He deals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Chronic Cough difficult-to-control asthma, Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Bronchiectesis, and Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD), among others. Moreover, his knowledge extends to lung infections at their most severe stages, such as ARDS, Complicated Pneumonia, Extensive Fungal Infections, Disseminated Tuberculosis. Besides this, he provides management for acute cases such as hemoptysis (coughing up blood) and central airway obstructions caused by cancers or foreign bodies. Such a diverse practice enables him to provide well-rounded care to both stable and critically ill patients.

The international training of Dr Bhatia at Southend University Hospital (NHS Trust, UK) and leading centers in Bangkok has deeply influenced his evidence-based methodology. The period in the UK resulted in a strict adherence to global safety standards and the use of a multidisciplinary 'Tumor Board' type method for decision-making. Conversely, training in Bangkok at the advanced endoscopic center developed his skills in rigid bronchoscopy and specialized Bronchoscopy techniques. With such a global perspective, patients at Yashoda Medicity can expect top-level treatment.

Early Diagnostic Bronchoscopy has completely revolutionized the way we look at patients with symptoms that do not resolve i.e., persistent cough, abnormal shadows on Chest Xray, or coughing out blood. The technique allows Dr. Bhatia to introduce a small, flexible tube into the lungs, where he can see abnormalities directly and obtain precise tissue or fluid samples. Such an "early look" is crucial to the timely detection of lung cancer or even rare infections. Thus, most of the time, it precludes the progression of the disease to an inoperable stage and the necessity of further invasive open chest surgeries.

Immunological lung disorders are managed through a personalized "phenotyping" approach. Instead of a standard treatment for all patients, Dr. Bhatia identifies the specific immune pathway that drives inflammation. He may carry out advanced allergy testing and subsequently offer targeted treatment, Biologics (injectable proteins that block specific markers of inflammation), or personalized immunotherapy. Such a precision medicine approach works especially well for patients with severe eosinophilic asthma who, despite using standard steroid inhalers, remain without relief.

Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) is a procedure that the patient will require if imaging results indicate mediastinal lymph node enlargement. It is the benchmark for accurate lung cancer staging, and it is also used for the diagnosis of inflammatory conditions like Sarcoidosis or Tuberculosis. Instead of a conventional surgery, EBUS enables the lung specialist to perform needle aspiration under the guidance of ultrasound, in a "live" manner by "seeing through the airway wall, thus, the method is capable of providing high diagnostic yields with the patient being minimally uncomfortable.

Patients with Asthma or COPD who continue to be "refractory" (unresponsive) even after the use of high-dose inhalers, Dr. Bhatia resorts to the application of individualized intervention protocols. There is a personalized attention and detailed plan to manage these conditions. Thorough lung function testing and Allergy tests are used to ensure the treatment is highly focused on the patient's particular physiological deficit, thereby greatly improving their lung capacity and overall quality of life.

Specialized Sleep Medicine plays an essential role because if Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is left untreated, it can bring about serious events, including heart failure, stroke, and hypertension. Dr. Bhatia performs Polysomnography (Sleep Studies) to observe a patient's oxygen levels and breathing patterns throughout the night. He then offers a range of personalized therapeutic measures depending on the study findings, which may include CPAP/BiPAP titration, positional therapy, or even surgical interventions.

People whose immune systems are weakened (e.g., those who are treated with chemotherapy or have had an organ transplant) have a greater susceptibility to "opportunistic" infections that are often invisible to routine tests. Dr. Bhatia is using Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL), in which a small amount of fluid is used to "wash" a lung segment, and cells are collected. The samples are subsequently rapidly genetically tested (e.g., GeneXpert) or screened for the presence of specialized fungal cultures. This enables the prompt start of specific antimicrobial treatment, which is of utmost importance in patients with compromised immune defenses.

In case of such symptoms, you should see a Pulmonologist & Sleep Medicine specialist, ideally one with interventional skills such as Dr. Ankit Bhatia. A long-lasting cough and chest pain might be caused by different things, such as the Tuberculosis, Pleural Effusion or Lung Cancer. Yashoda Medicity Ghaziabad's pulmonologist is equipped with diagnostic tools such as precise imaging and bronchoscopy to distinguish between Tuberculosis, cancer, and heart-related chest pain, thereby facilitating a correct and swift diagnosis.

Medical Thoracoscopy is a type of minimally invasive surgery that involves the insertion of a small scope through a small incision in the chest wall, mostly under local anesthesia or conscious sedation. This technique is used to diagnose and treat pleural (the lining of the lungs) disorders such as unexplained fluid buildup or tumors. It permits the doctor to see directly, perform accurate biopsies, and perform "pleurodesis," a procedure that adheres the lung to the chest wall to stop the fluid in the pleural space from accumulating, thus giving instant relief.

Patients at Yashoda Medicity can avail of uninterrupted round-the-clock advanced respiratory and critical care under the visionary leadership of Dr. Ankit Bhatia. This advanced facility features ultra-modern Level Interventional Pulmonology bronchoscopy suites, and a dedicated Medical ICU. In case of any emergency, such as a sudden airway blockage or Respiratory Failure, Yashoda Medicity offers a comprehensive, continuous safety net, along with clinical excellence, for all respiratory requirements.