Respiratory Medicine

About Respiratory Medicine

The Department of Respiratory Medicine was established in March 1983. This department was started initially to give specialized treatment to TB cases and Respiratory diseases like asthma, COPD etc. But within a short span of time Allergy unit and Bronchoscopy units were added. In fact, the allergy and bronchoscopy units were among the earliest facilities available in our country.

Detection of allergy is challenging aspect of management of respiratory allergic disorders and proper allergy detection requires allergy testing which is not available in many hospitals. In our department, allergy testing is done for nasal allergy and selected cases of asthma.

Smoking is harmful to the health and causes addiction. Chronic cigarette or beedi smokers have frequent lung problems and most important among them being COPD. COPD is not curable but stopping smoking early in the course of a disease is the only way to slow its progression.

Kasturba Medical College & Hospital has one of the most advanced fully equipped Respiratory departments, which now includes Sleep Medicine and Thoracoscopy.

The Department of Respiratory Medicine is concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and continuing care of patients with a considerable and challenging range of pathologies.

Contact Details

HOD: Dr. Rahul Magazine

+91 820 2922294

2nd Floor, OPD Block

Madhav Nagar, Manipal, Karnataka 576104

Services

The Pulmonary Function Laboratory (Spirometry)

The Pulmonary Function Laboratory (Spirometry) provides diagnostic screening services that assist our medical staff in the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory conditions such as:

Asthma
COPD
Respiratory Fibrosis

Diffusing Capacity of the Lungs for Carbon Monoxide (DLCO)

The test is used to diagnose Interstitial lung diseases, and to monitor the status of people with established lung disease. The test is useful for severity of interstitial lung diseases. The test also gives valid information regarding progression of disease and guides in adjusting treatment.

Skin prick testing

Skin prick test is done to establish whether an antigen tested is the causative allergen or not. Skin prick tests give quick information on sensitivity to individual allergens and helps clinicians for assessing respiratory allergic diseases. Skin prick tests are less sensitive but more specific than intradermal tests. Properly performed skin prick tests are economical and most convenient screening method for detecting allergy to a particular antigen. Skin prick test is safer than provocation testing and admission is not required. Excellent tool for inhalant allergens. Reliability for food allergens is variable.

Bronchoscopy Unit

This department has flexible bronchoscopy facility. Bronchoscopy is very useful particularly for diagnosing suspected lung tumor and as well as therapeutic application. A procedure like Bronchoalveolar Lavage, Endobronchial Biopsy, Brushings, Transbronchial needle aspiration and Transbronchial Biopsies are done for the diagnosis of various respiratory conditions like Tuberculosis, Bronchogenic Carcinoma, Interstitial Lung Diseases etc. Facilities for Open Lung Biopsy, Lung Resection Surgery are done in conjunction with Cardiothoracic Surgeons.

Polysomnography (Sleep Studies)

A sleep study is used to detect whether long-standing snoring is harmful to the health or not. Now it has been proved that snoring may be a manifestation of insufficient airflow (Sleep Apnea) into the lungs with harmful effects. This assumes greater importance when it occurs in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Insufficient airflow into the lungs during sleep may increase the risk of worsening of their heart ailments and even end up in sudden death. The only way to diagnose and start appropriate treatment for Sleep Apnea is to do sleep studies and assess the severity of sleep apnea. Proper treatment of sleep-disordered breathing by CPAP or BiPAP titration may prevent any serious complications and even unexplained death during sleep.

Thoracoscopy Unit

Medical Thoracoscopy provides a potentially less invasive means to diagnose and to treat a variety of intrathoracic diseases and it is safe and effective for the diagnosis of benign and malignant pleural disease. Medical Thoracoscopy is useful for therapeutic procedures, such as pleurodesis and uncomplicated empyema drainage.

Nitric Oxide test system (FeNo)

We are equipped with breath nitric oxide test system (No breath ®) which measure functional exhaled nitric oxide, which is helpful in diagnosing inflammatory conditions like Asthma.