APSR Short-Term Research/Training Scholarship

I arrived at Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia on 23rd June 2010, by Malaysian Airlines for training in Interventional Pulmonology at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Sabah, Malaysia. Dr Jamalul Azizi Abdul Rehman was kind enough to welcome me at the airport.

I was fortunate enough to attend a workshop organized by the institute on 24th June on EBUS/TBNA/Rigid Bronchoscopy, had wide discussions with the experts and also hands-on rigid bronchoscopy, EndoBronchialUltrasound (EBUS). This helped me a lot in understanding the basics of Flexible Thoracoscopy.

During the fellowship, I performed sufficient pleuroscopy (more than fifteen) using flexible thoracoscopy and took biopsy using rigid forceps. The pleuroscopy was performed in patients with undiagnosed pleural effusion under sedation, after taking all aseptic precautions. No complications were noticed in all the above patients.

I also performed flexible bronchoscopy with TBNA in more than ten patients with endobronchial and parenchymal lesions.

In the sleep lab I learnt the reporting of sleep studies and the effect of BiPAP on sleep pattern.

In ICU patients, I assisted in endobronchial intubation using flexible bronchoscope and also performed endobronchial toilet.

The Department of Respiratory Medicine performs various interventional procedures in OT at Sabah Medical Centre monthly or in emergency as and when required. I assisted in debulking large endobronchial cancerous growth and application of Laser. I presented a seminar: 'Role of Tranexemic acid in controlling endobronchial bleeding'. I also participated in a multi-disciplinary lung cancer meet.

Lastly, I acknowledge the sincere efforts of Dr Jamalul Azizi Abdul Rehman, Head, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, and his team (Dr Kanan, Dr Mustafa and Dr Afreen), and nursing staff for providing me adequate platform to learn various procedures in pulmonology.

I also acknowledge my home supervisors Prof. Rakesh Bhargava (HOD) and Prof. Zuber Ahmad for permitting me to take this training.

Finally, I thank the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology for selecting me for this prestigious Fellowship.

Mohammad Shameem
Assistant Professor,
Department of Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases,
Jawaherial Nehru Medical College,
Aligarh Muslim University,
Aligarh UP India

Left to right; Dr Afreen, Dr Shameen, Dr Kanan, Dr Jamalul-Azizi-Abdul-Rehman, Dr Mustafa
(Click photo to enlarge)