Home/Topic Collection: Recent Advances and New Perspectives in Interventional Pulmonology

Topic Collection: Recent Advances and New Perspectives in Interventional Pulmonology

Recent Advances and New Perspectives in Interventional Pulmonology

Interventional pulmonology, a rapidly advancing branch of respiratory medicine, utilizies minimally invasive technologies for diagnosing and treating diverse pulmonary conditions. Innovations have enhanced nodule detection, expanding treatment options and improving outcomes; however, limited evidence underscores the necessity for further research to refine techniques and reinforce recommendations. This Topic Collection aims to promote innovations, evidence-based practice and highlight future perspectives in the field of interventional pulmonology. Submissions Open | Submission Deadline: 6th January 2025

Guest Editors

Francesco Salton University of Trieste Trieste, Italy ORCID logoorcid.org/0000-0002-0864-9766 Nicolò Reccardini University of Trieste Trieste, Italy ORCID logoorcid.org/0009-0004-5792-3655
Lucrezia Mondini University of Trieste Trieste, Italy ORCID logoorcid.org/0000-0002-7043-9639 Barbara Ruaro University of Trieste Trieste, Italy ORCID logoorcid.org/0000-0001-8990-859X  
Interventional pulmonology stands as a rapidly evolving field within respiratory medicine, showcasing increasingly refined and minimally invasive technologies for diagnosing and treating a broad range of pulmonary conditions. In recent decades, the advent of sophisticated and less intrusive methods such as endobronchial ultrasound, robotic bronchoscopy, navigation platforms, and advanced imaging techniques has enabled the detection of ever-smaller peripheral nodules. This has translated into improved prospects for early treatment and enhanced survival rates, also thanks to the availability of new tailored therapeutic approaches. The role of bronchoscopy in addressing both benign and malignant central airway obstructions has expanded, complemented by the development of interventional therapies for chronic conditions like asthma and emphysema. A gradual shift away from invasive thoracic surgery has been observed in the field of interstitial lung diseases, with transbronchial lung cryobiopsy now recognized as a viable alternative to surgical lung biopsy, as endorsed by the latest guidelines. Moreover, pleural procedures for diagnosing and managing pleural diseases have become more widespread, encompassing medical thoracoscopy, pleural drainages, thoracenteses, and ultrasound-guided transthoracic biopsies. However, despite the promising strides and growing significance of interventional pulmonology, recommendations often hinge on evidence of moderate to low certainty due to a dearth of large-scale, randomized controlled studies. Thus, there is a pressing need to prioritize research endeavours aimed at reinforcing and refining current applications of interventional pulmonology, while also paving the way for future perspectives and techniques. The primary aim of this Topic Collection is to highlight the most notable innovations in respiratory system diagnostics and management. Additionally, it seeks to stimulate fresh research in the domain of interventional pulmonology, with a specific focus on innovative, evidence-based, and personalized diagnostic and therapeutic tools.  Acknowledging the crucial contribution of research to the advancement of the field, BMJ Open Respiratory Research invites submissions of trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses exploring novel applications and techniques in interventional pulmonology. We welcome submissions including but not limited to:
  • Flexible bronchoscopy techniques
  • Rigid bronchoscopy techniques
  • Robotic bronchoscopy
  • Endoscopic management of peripheral lung nodules
  • Lung volume reduction
  • Advanced imaging and navigation techniques
  • Medical thoracoscopy
  • Pleural procedures
  • Endobronchial ultrasonography
  • Right-heart catheterization
Please see the instructions for authors for submission requirements for each article type. To submit your article, please follow these instructions and select ‘Recent Advances and New Perspectives in Interventional Pulmonology’ as the Topic Collection.   All submitted articles will be subject to the journal's normal peer review process. The Editor in Chief is responsible for the content of this Topic Collection. Guest Editors will manage peer review, invite reviewers and make a recommendation, but the final decision on all manuscripts will be made by the Editor-in-Chief. Articles accepted for publication will be published upon acceptance. Visit our author hub for more information regarding the publication process for topic collections.  Authors submitting to this Topic Collection are entitled to a 25% discount on the Article Processing Charge. Discount is available upon request to info.bmjresp@bmj.com.  A number of institutions have an open access agreement with BMJ where the full cost of publishing can be covered; please view the list of institutions to which this applies. BMJ also offers full waivers for authors based in low income countries; please see further information on our waivers and discounts policy. For any inquiries regarding this topic collection, please contact topic.collections@bmj.com.  Keywords: Interventional pulmonology; bronchoscopy; medical thoracoscopy; pleural drainage; cryobiopsy; right heart catheterization; bronchial thermoplasty; laser; lung volume reduction; robotic bronchoscopy; cone-beam CT; EBUS; rEBUS