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Li Ying
Pulmonology
About me
Medical doctor. Since 2002, I have been working in the Respiratory Department of Xiangya Hospital, accumulating rich clinical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of numerous difficult and critically ill patients. This includes refractory cough, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, lung cancer, pulmonary tuberculosis, interstitial lung disease, and refractory pneumothorax. I serve as a member of the Respiratory Physiology and Pulmonary Function Committee of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, the Science Popularization Committee of the Respiratory Rehabilitation Committee of the Chinese Rehabilitation Medicine Association, and the Health Management Committee of the Hunan Medical Association.
Proficient in diseases
Areas of expertise: Chronic bronchitis, emphysema, COPD, asthma, lung cancer, tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, pulmonary infections, interstitial lung disease
Voices
Is hemoptysis lung cancer?
Coughing up blood is not necessarily lung cancer. Among respiratory diseases, the three most common causes of coughing up blood are, first, bronchiectasis; second, pneumonia and lung abscess; and third, lung cancer. So how can we determine the cause? The best, simplest, and fastest method is to go to the hospital for a lung CT scan as soon as coughing up blood occurs. If the lung CT shows bronchiectasis, then bronchiectasis should be considered; if it shows an infiltrative lesion, then pneumonia should be considered; if it shows a tumor, then lung cancer should be considered at that time. However, there is also a scenario where blood is coughed up, but the lung CT is completely normal. What should be done then? This situation might be due to pharyngitis. Sometimes, severe coughing from pharyngitis can cause bleeding of the mucous membranes in the throat. In this case, there’s no need for excessive worry, as it may be caused by factors involving the throat. Cough gently, and if there’s no blood when coughing lightly, it’s likely not serious. However, if there's still blood in the sputum even when coughing lightly, it is recommended to undergo a bronchoscopy to check for tuberculosis or cancer in the bronchi.
How many days do you usually stay in the hospital for pneumothorax drainage?
This depends on whether the pneumothorax is a simple pneumothorax or is complicated by other diseases. If there are no other lung diseases present and it is just a simple pneumothorax, then typically, drainage by tube for 5 to 7 days can lead to a complete recovery and cure. However, if there are complications such as emphysema, pulmonary heart disease, pneumoconiosis, or lung infections, then it is necessary first to control the infections. During this time, the pneumothorax can easily become a communicating pneumothorax. If it lasts for more than 1 to 2 weeks, it may turn into a refractory pneumothorax. In the case of refractory pneumothorax, besides drainage, minimally invasive surgeries such as pleurodesis or pneumothorax occlusion procedures are required. These surgeries take time. Therefore, if a stubborn pneumothorax forms, especially when complications like emphysema are present, hospital stays often need to be 14 days or even longer.
How is pneumoconiosis caused?
Pneumoconiosis is a systemic disease characterized by diffuse fibrotic scarring of lung tissue. It is caused by the long-term inhalation of industrial dust and dust during occupational activities, which accumulates in the lungs. Once pneumoconiosis occurs, it is irreversible and incurable for life, with a high mortality rate of up to 22%. So, who is more likely to develop pneumoconiosis? The main occupations include: First, mining activities, including coal mining, metal mining, and non-metal mining. These activities produce a large amount of dust that, when inhaled into the lungs, can cause pneumoconiosis. Second, mechanical manufacturing, specifically during the manufacturing process of metal castings. Activities such as sand mixing for casting and sand molding can lead to pneumoconiosis, particularly among welders who dominate this industry. Third, metal smelting, involving ore loading and unloading, steel casting, and alumina sintering. The primary occupations exposed include sintered pellet raw material workers, sintering workers, and blast furnace operators, all of whom come into contact with large amounts of dust. Fourth, the construction industry, for example, with materials resistant to fire such as quartz sand, glass, stone, and cement production, as well as asbestos mining. Workers in these industries are exposed to large amounts of dust. In China, the top three types of pneumoconiosis are silicosis, coal worker's pneumoconiosis, and graphite pneumoconiosis, along with those working in jade processing and welder's pneumoconiosis, which are relatively common.