The American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) is organizing a three-day conference and workshop on respiratory diseases at the Perambur Railway Hospital from 18th to 20th of this month.

More than 75 eminent experts in the field, including three overseas speakers, are attending the meet, mainly participated by chest physicians, physicians, faculty and students from institutions like the Apollo Hospitals, Institute of Thoracic Medicine, Railway Hospitals, Sree Ramachandra Medical College etc.

The meet is also conducting a special workshop on bronchoscopy and a special session meant for the radiologists to deliberate on the latest developments in pulmonary medicine. The meet would discuss diseases like asthma, chronic obstructive lung diseases, critical care, chest imaging, tuberculosis, SARS etc., according to Dr.Rajan Santhosham, Head of the Cardio thoracic surgery department of Madras Medical College and governor of ACCP, Southern Chapter.

He noted that either one out of 50 people are suffering from respiratory related disorders, and there were tremendous advancements in diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary diseases. Most of the respiratory diseases were either considered as TB or asthma until recently, and the technological advancements are now helping the doctors to a large extent, and this would be a major point of discussion at the meeting.

ACCP is a medical speciality society of chest physicians, physicians, thoracic surgeons, physiotherapists and other professionals related to pulmonary care, said Dr.Rajan Santhosham.