Information for Trainees in Respiratory Medicine
Organised training
There are two dedicated weeks (one in spring and one in autumn) set aside each year for specific training in respiratory medicine. The spring meeting takes place in Swansea and has a clinical focus, whereas the autumn meeting is held in Cardiff and is orientated toward basic science. Both of these well-supported and organised meetings attract national and international expert speakers. Attendance at both of these events is considered compulsory, and a certificate documenting actual attendance is issued to each trainee at the end of the week.
The individual training sessions vary in format but usually consist of a series of lectures, tutorials and occasional practical demonstrations. Active participation is encouraged and at least one session will be devoted to presentations skills. For the spring week (in Swansea) all attendees are expected to prepare a 10-minute PowerPoint presentation on a topic of their choice.
For the autumn week (in Cardiff) a fixed number of trainees are selected to give a presentation, and will be contacted before the meeting by the organiser. This would ordinarily involve critical appraisal of a recent scientific paper, which should then be summarised. If you are in doubt about whether a presentation is required or have questions about the content, you are strongly advised to contact the course organiser before attendance.
Of note, there is a prize for the best presentation at each training week.
For further information about these events you can contact:
Dr Ben Hope-Gill (Cardiff/autumn meeting) Ben.Hope-gill@CardiffandVale.wales.nhs.uk
Dr Keir Lewis (Swansea/spring meeting) K.E.Lewis@swan.ac.uk
The full meeting program and selected presentations for the most recent training weeks can be accessed below
Specialist Registrar and Specialist Trainee Representatives
The views and opinions of Welsh trainees can be articulated at each training committee meeting via the nominated trainee representatives. At present there are two such trainee representatives: one for the Specialist Trainees (ST grade) and one for the Specialist Registrars (SpR grade), reflecting the change currently underway in training structure. Any concerns, comments or suggestions about training can be directed to either of these people. The current representatives are
Daniel Menzies (SpR representative) danielmenzies@mac.com
Claire Kilduff (ST representative) drclairekilduff@hotmail.com
Please visit note it is recommended that trainees visit the JRCPTB website (accessible via the links page) frequently for updates in training restructure.
Case of the quarter
Submitted by Mihiar Atfeh CT2 in ENT, and Teresa Ching Consultant Physician Glan Clwyd Hospital Rhyl
A 68-year old patient with Wegener’s Granulomatosis (WG) developed progressive dyspnoea. Treatment with prednisilone and methotrexate had successfully maintained disease remission for the previous 5 years. Pulmonary function testing demonstrated normal lung volumes, spirometry and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity, but a large reduction in Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) to 38% of the predicted value. The flow-volume loop was “squared”, with limitation of both the expiratory and inspiratory limbs consistent with fixed upper airway narrowing. Subsequent CT scan of the neck and thorax confirmed severe subglottic stenosis (arrows), secondary to localized tracheal recurrence of active WG.
Treatment by intra-lesional triamcinolone and serial dilatation of the airway stenosis led to immediate improvement in the patients’ symptoms and a commensurate increase in PEF. Localised upper airway involvement occurs in approximately 8% of patients with WG. Examining the flow-volume loop and PEF are convenient methods of detecting and monitoring this complication
