Respiratory Medicine

The department has well qualified and dedicated consultants who strive to provide care of the highest standard. The aim of the department is to provide compassionate care for a successful patient outcome. The department provides comprehensive approach to any respiratory medical disease with a very capable team and well supported infrastructure. We educate our patient and their family for disease preventive aspects for making them aware about how to prevent the disease prior to their inception.
The department is equipped with specialized services like video bronchoscopy, non-invasive ventilator, computerized spirometry, lung diffusion study, polysomnography, immunotherapy, and video-thoracoscopy. It caters to about 8000 outpatients and 1400 inpatients annually. The department has the track records of conducting CME programs, workshops and national conferences targeting pulmonary physicians and post graduate students.
The department also undertakes funded research projects. It also conducts patient awareness programmes targeted for education on asthma, COPD, lung cancer, IPF and other lung diseases.

• Asthma care programme
• Asthma and COPD Clinics with an Amrita Asthma Education Programme conducted fortnightly
• COPD Rehabilitation Clinic
• Allergy and Immunotherapy Clinic
• Smoking Cessation Clinic including counselling and pharmacotherapy intervention services
• Sleep disorder clinic
• Fibreoptic Video Bronchoscopy Clinic
• Pleural Clinic (Ultrasound chest and ultrasound-guided procedures at bedside as well as in OPD)
• ILD Clinic (Multidimensional team management of ILD)
• Non-invasive ventilator

Procedures Done

• Spirometry (PFT)
• Diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO)
• Lung volume (FRC, TLC)
• Cardio pulmonary exercise testing
• Six-minute walk test (6 MWT)
• ABG
• Allergen sensitivity tests
• Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB)
• Pleural aspiration and biopsy
• Fibreoptic video bronchoscopy and FOB guided BAL, bronchial biopsy, TBNA and TBLB
• Medical Thoracoscopy
• Intercostal tube drainage and pigtail drainage
• Pleurodesis
• Polysomnography (Sleep study)
• Oxygen titration
• CPAP titration
• Pulmonary rehabilitation for COPD and ILD patients

• Bronchial asthma
• COPD
• Sleep-disordered breathing
• Interstitial lung disease
• Cystic fibrosis
• Occupational lung disease
• Pulmonary rehabilitation
• Tuberculosis (pulmonary and extra pulmonary)
   

Diagnostic Tests Offered

• Pulmonary Function Tests :
  Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) are useful in diagnosing various lung disorders. They also measure the degree of impairment due to the disease. The progression of a disease and the effectiveness of treatments can be carefully observed with regularly scheduled testing. Pulmonary Function Tests are also used frequently to assess preoperative risk and are done supervised by chief respiratory technician.
  
  Advanced Pulmonary Function Tests :
  • Body box and diffusion capacity of lung
  • Lung volume estimation
  • Cardiopulmonary exercise testing
  • Six-minute walk test
• Flexible Video Bronchoscopies :
  Flexible Video Bronchoscopic investigation and treatment is provided as an outpatient bronchoscopy service. Bronchoscopies are useful in the investigation of problems such as coughing or an abnormal chest x-ray and are performed under local anaesthetic. A modern endoscopy suite with fluoroscopy is available for outpatient and inpatient bronchoscopies. A fibreoptic bronchoscopy system with video and photographic capability is used for performing bronchoscopies which helps in the complete visual assessment of air passages and in making an accurate diagnosis of infection, cancerous changes, and also in obtaining biological samples for pathological examinations.
• Evaluation of Breathing Disorders and Chronic Respiratory Ailments
• Advanced PFT Lab :
  We are very proud to say that we have state-of-the-art “Pulmonary Function Test” Lab in our department. We are equipped with performing basic spirometry to highest level complex pulmonary function test like lung volume, diffusion capacity and cardio-pulmonary exercise test.
• Evaluation and Treatment of Sleep Disorders :
  We provide level 1-4 sleep studies as per the need of the patient. We have collaboration with other specialities like ENT/dental and neurology for comprehensive care for obstructive sleep apnea patients.
   

Outpatient Services

Patient Education and Rehabilitation

A number of outpatient programs are available at the Department of Respiratory Medicine for patients suffering from advanced emphysema, asthma and chronic bronchitis. These programs include pulmonary rehabilitation, transtracheal oxygen, and nutritional support. The Smoking Cessation Program is under the direction of physicians and therapists experienced in the treatment of nicotine dependence.

Asthma Self-Management Program

Asthma patients who are treated on an outpatient basis are periodically scheduled for group presentations about asthma, including different types of the disease, common symptom, frequently used medicines, inhalers, and accessory equipments. Patients are shown how to use peak-flow machines and are taught self-management techniques for their use at home.

COPD Rehabilitation Services

Services include education about COPD and physical therapy. Patients can benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation if they have emphysema, asthma, or chronic bronchitis. A team of healthcare professionals with various specialities staff the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program. The team consists of a pulmonary physician, a clinical nurse specialist, an exercise physiologist, a respiratory therapist, a dietician, and a social worker.

Smoking Cessation Clinic

Services offered include an initial consultation with a Pulmonologist regarding smoking habits. Patient education is provided, and the motivation to stop smoking is discussed. Pharmaceutical intervention may be offered where appropriate counselling is also offered to patients attending the clinic and on a follow up basis as needed.

Inpatient Services

The Department of Respiratory Medicine works in coordination with the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery and the Department of Neurosciences to ensure the highest quality of care for patients with pulmonary problems.

Interstitial Lung Disease Clinic

Interstitial Lung Disease or Pulmonary Fibrosis is a broad category of lung diseases that include more than 130 disorders characterized by scarring (i.e. ”fibrosis”) and / or inflammation of the lungs with progression to death if not detected early and treated appropriately.

Interstitial Lung Disease Clinic at Amrita Hospital is an ideal centre for patient care, education and treatment. Department of Respiratory Medicine at Amrita has been evaluating these complex cases and providing compassionate care for decades. A rheumatologist who deals with these types of autoimmune disorders plays a significant role in the clinical care of ILD patients. A multidisciplinary ILD clinic at Amrita consisting of a pulmonologist and rheumatologist offers patients an innovative mode of healthcare delivery that can lead to a more accurate diagnosis and consequently alterations in treatment regimens that may lead to improved outcomes.

Pleural Clinic

The Department of Respiratory Medicine offers speciality clinic for pleural diseases. It is targeted for the patient having chest pain due to fluid collection on either side of their chest. We provide on the spot diagnosis as well as therapeutic removal of fluid giving instant relief of pain and breathing difficulty.

Quit Smoking Clinic

The Department of Respiratory Medicine is conducting Quit Tobacco Clinic as a part of the activities of Anti-Tobacco Movement at Amrita (ATMA). It is a comprehensive program motivating people to quit tobacco use and in which the patient, family members, doctor, medical social worker and the psychologist are involved. The program involves a combination of problem identification and solving, patient education, counselling and medication. Medication support is provided to avoid withdrawal symptoms as and when required. The intervention is done both at individual and group levels. People from all walks of life like students, employees, professionals, businessmen and unskilled labourers are attending this clinic and enjoy the benefits of smoking cessation.

 

Phone: 0484 – 2858650, 0484 - 6688650 
Email: pulmonary@aims.amrita.edu, ildclinic@aims.amrita.edu

• First of its kind Antituberculosis stewardship Program in India (2017)
• Kerala’s First pulmonary Rehabilitation Clinic in a medical college (2019)
• First Video-assisted Tele Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Kerala (2021)
• One of the first institutes completed 100% TB notification