Respiratory Medicine

1. Unit Description

The Division of Respiratory Medicine is one of the subspecialised units within the Department of Medicine and provides clinical services, training and research in respiratory medicine.

2. Services

Service provision is performed at both secondary and tertiary levels. Some of the respiratory diseases are managed at the multi-disciplinary level at our division. We have a close working relationship with our radiologists, thoracic surgeons, oncologists, microbiologists and other specialists in various disciplines of medicine/surgery. Services provided are listed as follows:

1. Respiratory function tests, which include spirometry, lung volume, diffusing capacity and 6-min walk tests.
2. Diagnostic bronchoscopy, which includes bronchial brushing, bronchial lavage, transbronchial lung biopsy, transbronchial/transtracheal fine needle aspiration biopsy as well as bronchoscopic biopsy
3. Therapeutic flexible bronchoscopy, which includes laser ablation, argon plasma ablation therapy, foreign body retrieval and self-expandable metallic tracheobronchial stenting
4. Diagnostic pleurocentesis, pleural biopsy, medical pleurodesis and chest tube insertion.
5. Polysomnography
   We have special interest in the following diseases or medical conditions:
   1. Asthma
   2. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
   3. Various lung infections, e.g. pneumonia, lung abscess, bronchiectasis and thoracic empyema
   4. Tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection
   5. Pulmonary embolism
   6. Pulmonary hypertension
   7. Diffuse parenchymal lung diseases/interstitial lung diseases
   8. Lung carcinoma and mesothelioma
   9. Pleural diseases
   10. Sleep-related breathing disorders and obesity hypoventilation syndrome

ENDOSCOPY UNIT

The diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopy is performed in the endoscopy unit. This is located at 6th floor, South Tower ("Menara Selatan") of the hospital. The endoscopic suites are shared with other disciplines of medicine, e.g. Gastroenterology Division of Internal Medicine and the Surgery Department. Various endoscopic procedures, with or without fluoroscopy imaging, are performed in this unit.

Respiratory Ward (12U)
We have been allocated 43 beds in ward 12U at UMMC for patients who need inpatient respiratory care.

Day-care unit (12U)
A day-care unit for the administration of chemotherapy and review of patients undergoing such therapy is attached to the ward (12U).

CLINIC/ PATIENT CONSULTATION
1st floor, general medical clinic, UMMC

Chest clinic 1:
Every Monday (9.00am to 1.00pm),

Chest clinic 2
Every Wednesday (9.00am to 1.00pm),

Asthma Clinic
Every Friday (2.15pm to 4.30pm)

3. Research

As one of the premier academic respiratory units in Malaysia, we have been actively involved in original research in various respiratory disorders. Additionally, we have participated widely in international multi-centre trials with a reputable recruitment.

4. Staff

Consultants

1. Prof Dr Liam Chong Kin
2. Associate Prof Dr Pang Yong Kek

Lecturers/Clinical Specialists

1. Dr Kow Ken Siong
2. Dr Wong Chee Kuan
3. Dr Poh Mau Ern
4. Dr Tan Jiunn Liang
5. Dr Deborah Chew Chia Hsin