THE INSTITUTE OF PULMONARY MEDICINE

Last January 4, we had a tour of the Institute of Pulmonary Medicine. The tour
consisted of four areas namely: the Arterial Blood Gas Section, Bronchoscopy Section,
the Spirometry Section, and lastly, the Conference Room.

The first area we visited was the Arterial Blood Gas section. We were not able to
see the exact room where the test is done but we were shown the extraction room. The
respiratory therapist told us about the Allen Test which is a test used to determine the
patency of an artery and whether or not it can be used for sample extraction. We were
also shown the Enterprise Point of Care apparatus which is a machine that can be used
bedside as well as a sample of the result form which surprisingly, includes electrolyte
readings.

The second area shown to us was the room where pulmonary function tests are
done. In this room was the large apparatus for spirometry which, as explained to us, is a
non-invasive, effort-dependent pulmonary function test. The respiratory therapist giving
us the tour also told us about the Methacholine Challenge Test which is only available
at SLMC and is used to determine the presence or absence of airway
hyperresponsiveness. It involves the inhalation of a medication in increasing doses in
an attempt to produce a change in the pulmonary function test results. Additionally, the
RT enlightened us about the Nitrogen Washout test which is done when a patient is
claustrophobic.

Next, we were led to the Conference Room where a resident gave us an

overview of the Pulmonary Medicine program. She also informed us about a mode of
treatment called Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) which involves the
use of a pump to oxygenate a patient’s blood outside the body, allowing the heart and
lungs to rest.

The last section we visited was the Bronchoscopy Section where we were shown
the apparatus used during the procedure. We were also allowed to hold it and
manipulate it like a joystick.

The hospital tour made me realize the large advancements in technology when it
comes to the field of medicine and it amazed me how machines that were bulky in the
past are now much smaller. The portability of these machines allows faster turnaround
of results, lessening the time needed to confirm a patient’s diagnosis.

I appreciated the variety of the pulmonary function tests which allows them to
cater to a patient’s specific needs, removing the need to force them to undergo
procedures they don’t want to.
 Finally, I value the opportunity to see the machines used for these pulmonary
function tests because it made it easier to visualize and understand how important and
helpful these tests can be to patients.