Our consultants and doctors working in our respiratory medicine departments, diagnose and treat conditions affecting the respiratory (breathing) system, ie the nose, throat (pharynx), larynx, the windpipe (trachea), the lungs and the diaphragm.

Our clinical teams work closely with colleagues in the hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU), providing advice; since so many acute conditions involve respiratory problems.

Assessing patients in outpatients’ clinics is also an important part of the work.  There are two types of clinic: general respiratory clinics and specialist clinics. Patients with asthma and conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are treated in the general clinics. COPD includes chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive airways disease.

The Pulmonary Physiology Department carries out a wide range of diagnostic tests to assess lungs function, cardio-respiratory function and muscle strength. These tests also evaluate responsiveness to treatment.

The specialized tests and investigations include:

• Spirometry
• Lung volumes (helium dilution/body plethysmography)
• Gas diffusion
• Bronchodilator response
• Pulse oximetry
• Airway resistance
• Cardiopulmonary Exercise Tests (CPET)
• Bronchial and exercise provocation tests
• Respiratory muscle strength
• Fitness to fly assessments
• Arterial/capillary ear lobe blood gases
• Six minute walk test

These tests are used by clinicians to help diagnose lung diseases and measure the extent of damage caused by the lung conditions. They are also used to assess the effect of medication and to measure the progress in the treatment of disease.

The department offers its service to all patients lung and cardiac problems. We test adults and some pediatric patients who are inpatients and referred as outpatients. These patients are referred from a variety of specialities such as Rheumatology, Cardiothoracic surgery, Cardiology, General surgery, Renal, Respiratory, Vascular, Upper GI and directly from GP practices.