What Is Interventional Pulmonology?
Some lung conditions cannot be diagnosed with a scan or blood test alone. Interventional pulmonology uses minimally invasive procedures to see inside the airway directly, take tissue samples, and treat blockages — without open surgery.
Who needs it?
- Unexplained lung mass or shadow
- Suspected or confirmed lung cancer
- Persistent cough with no clear cause
- Airway blockage or narrowing
- Pleural fluid (fluid around lungs)
- Complex COPD or interstitial lung disease
Advantages over open surgery
- No incisions or stitches
- Same-day or overnight procedure
- Local anaesthesia or light sedation
- Faster recovery — back home in hours
- Lower complication risk
- Diagnosis and treatment in one session
Dr. Kunal Waghray
Interventional Pulmonologist — trained at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences. One of the few specialists in Hyderabad with dedicated interventional bronchoscopy training.
- 1,000+ bronchoscopy procedures
- ~30 procedures per month
- EBUS, cryotherapy, rigid bronchoscopy
- DM Pulmonology — Amrita Institute
Procedures Available at Respire
Each procedure is performed by Dr. Kunal Waghray — one of few interventional pulmonologists in Hyderabad with full bronchoscopy suite experience.
Flexible Bronchoscopy
Camera test for the lungs
A thin flexible camera is passed through the nose or mouth into the airways to visualise the lungs, take biopsies, and clear blockages.
Used for:
- Unexplained cough or haemoptysis
- Suspected lung cancer or infection
- Foreign body removal
- Airway sampling
EBUS — Endobronchial Ultrasound
Ultrasound-guided lung biopsy
A bronchoscope with an ultrasound probe samples lymph nodes and lung masses adjacent to the airway — without surgery or general anaesthesia.
Used for:
- Lung cancer staging
- Unexplained mediastinal lymph nodes
- Sarcoidosis diagnosis
- TB lymph node biopsy
Rigid Bronchoscopy
Airway treatment under anaesthesia
A rigid metal tube allows larger instruments into the airway for therapeutic procedures — tumour removal, stent placement, and massive bleeding control.
Used for:
- Tumour debulking
- Airway stent insertion
- Massive haemoptysis control
- Large foreign body removal
Cryotherapy & Cryobiopsy
Freeze and remove airway tissue
A cryoprobe freezes and removes abnormal tissue or takes large biopsy samples from the airways — better yield than standard forceps biopsy.
Used for:
- Endobronchial tumour treatment
- Large airway biopsy
- Interstitial lung disease diagnosis
Pleural Procedures
Fluid around the lungs — drainage and biopsy
Procedures to drain fluid collections around the lungs (pleural effusion) and obtain tissue samples from the pleural lining.
Used for:
- Pleural effusion drainage
- Pleurodesis for recurrent fluid
- Pleural biopsy for diagnosis
- Indwelling pleural catheter
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Structured breathing and exercise programme
A supervised programme of breathing exercises, physical conditioning, and education for patients with chronic lung disease.
Used for:
- COPD management
- Post-COVID lung recovery
- Post-surgery rehabilitation
- Chronic breathlessness
When Is a Referral Needed?
Your GP or specialist may refer you to Dr. Kunal for interventional assessment if:
CT shows a lung nodule or mass
Bronchoscopy or EBUS can sample the lesion to determine if it is cancerous.
Persistent cough with no diagnosis after 8 weeks
Bronchoscopy can visualise the airway and rule out structural causes.
Enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes on CT
EBUS can sample nodes without surgery — critical for cancer staging.
Suspected sarcoidosis or interstitial lung disease
Cryobiopsy via bronchoscopy provides larger, better-quality tissue samples.
Recurrent pleural effusion
Pleural procedures can drain fluid and prevent recurrence.
Airway obstruction or stridor
Rigid bronchoscopy + stenting can restore airway patency urgently.
Haemoptysis (coughing blood)
Bronchoscopy identifies the bleeding source and allows targeted treatment.
TB lymph node biopsy needed
EBUS samples mediastinal lymph nodes affected by TB without open surgery.
Referred for a Lung Procedure?
Dr. Kunal Waghray performs all interventional procedures personally. Most patients are assessed and scheduled within the same week.