APSR Short-Term Research/Training Scholarship

For training in Interventional Pulmonology at the Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand under the supervision of Dr Jamsak Tscheikuna, Associate Professor, Division of Respiratory Medicine and Tuberculosis, Faculty of Medicine.

I am very pleased to announce the completion of my Short-Term Research Training/Fellowship in Interventional Pulmonology under the aegis of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology. I am very grateful to the APSR for offering me this opportunity to hone my skills in interventional pulmonology.

I had the opportunity to work with the eminent Interventional Pulmonologist Dr Jamsak Tscheikuna, who is a pioneer of interventional pulmonology at the Siriraj hospital in Bangkok, which is one of the largest teaching hospitals in Thailand. He has done lot of original work on post tubercular airway stenosis, which is my area of interest as well. The IP unit at Siriraj is very busy and they do a wide variety of IP procedures.

In my host institute, I was got the chance to assist and observe various bronchoscopic and pleuroscopy procedures. Here a large number of procedures are being done which include EBUS Radial biopsy, EBUS TBNA, rigid bronchoscopy and rigid pleuroscopy. I had an excellent opportunity to learn the innumerable cases of EBUS Radial probe biopsies under fluoroscopy guidance. I also got to learn whole lung lavage for PAP and rigid bronchoscopic interventions including electrocautery, lasers, tumor debulking, balloon dilatation and stent placement.

My project was on endobronchial TB and I observed that endobronchial TB, as in India, is common in Thailand and it warrants frequent endobronchial intervention by the rigid scope. I learnt the nuances of rigid bronchoscopy intubation and scope maneuvering. I also attended the journal club every Friday, and had the opportunity to present an article on lung cryobiopsy.

The support staff in the unit was very helpful and friendly. My special thanks to Dr Chayanon and Dr Pete, IP fellows in the unit, who went out of their way to help me. I am forever indebted to Dr Jamsak and his associate Dr Supparerk, who helped me hone my interventional procedures skills and were always kind and smiling. Finally, I thank the APSR for their Scholarship in the field of pulmonary medicine, which is continuously encouraging young physicians from all parts of Asia-Pacific region, to hone their skills and become better pulmonologists.

Arjun Khanna

(Click photo to enlarge)