The Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Christian Medical College conducts spirometry workshop annually. The last workshop took place during 8-9^th of February.

Spirometry is the most common of the pulmonary function tests, measuring lung function specifically the amount (volume) and/or speed (flow) of air that can be inhaled and exhaled. Spirometry is an important tool used for assessing conditions such as asthma, COPD and pulmonary fibrosis.

Unlike other tests, spirometry is the test which is entirely dependent on patient effort. Therefore, a good quality spirometry report depends on good test procedure which in turn is dependent on a well-trained spirometry technician, who should be well versed with the ATS/ERS guidelines. In reality most, spirometryare done by untrained, non-technical personnel without proper theoretical or practical knowledge and no hands-on training. This results in suboptimal efforts which could lead to wrong diagnosis.

Our Department has a busy lab for performing,

• Spirometry
• Lung volume measurements by Nitrogen wash out, helium dilution and body plethysmography
• Diffusing capacity measurement
• Bronchoprovocation testing
• Respiratory muscle strength testing
• Impulse oscillometry
• Rhinomanometry

The main objective of the course is to impart hands on training in performing good quality spirometry with basic knowledge as background. Therefore, we have the infrastructure to impart good training in spirometry.