Bronchoscopy & Pleural Procedures

Dr. Abdallah performs a range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for patients with lung disease, pleural effusions, and lung nodules requiring biopsy.

Bronchoscopy: Bronchoscopy allows direct examination of the airways using a thin, flexible scope, and is used to diagnose infections, lung nodules, masses, and other airway abnormalities. Dr. Abdallah performs basic bronchoscopy for airway inspection and sampling, as well as EBUS (endobronchial ultrasound), an advanced technique that allows biopsy of lymph nodes and central lung masses — often used to stage lung cancer or diagnose conditions like sarcoidosis without more invasive surgery.

Pleural procedures: For patients with fluid buildup around the lungs (pleural effusion), Dr. Abdallah offers:

• Thoracentesis — removal of fluid from around the lung, both for diagnostic evaluation and symptom relief

• Aspira catheter placement — a tunneled pleural catheter for patients with recurrent, refractory pleural effusions, such as those related to malignancy. This allows fluid to be drained at home on an ongoing basis, reducing the need for repeated procedures and hospital visits

Why this matters: These procedures allow many patients to be diagnosed and managed without more invasive surgery, and for patients with malignant effusions, the Aspira catheter in particular can significantly improve comfort and quality of life by managing fluid buildup on an ongoing, outpatient basis.