Pneumologia interventistica = Interventional Pulmonology

Pulmonology has always distinguished itself from other medical specialties for its important and rich heritage of diagnostic and therapeutic instrumental methods, which have their roots in physiology. Scientific research and technological innovations of the last 30-40 years have provided the pulmonologist with increasingly improved tools, which have contributed to expanding his knowledge, skills and diagnostic and therapeutic potential. The term "interventional pulmonology", adopted by international and national scientific societies (ACCP, ATS, ERS, AIPO, SIMER), includes the traditional methods of diagnostic and therapeutic bronchial endoscopy in adults and children and medical thoracoscopy, but also the transparietal needle aspiration technique, the positioning and management of the thoracic drainage and the most recent TBNA, EBUS, autofluorescence, and others which constitute an indispensable part of the pulmonologist's cultural background. The application of these methods in daily clinical practice, together with other important diagnostic and therapeutic aspects peculiar to pulmonology has contributed to making the figure of the pulmonologist irreplaceable in modern healthcare.