Doctors focus on infection control, role of surgery to treat tuberculosis

By:
Ritika Gupta

NAGPUR: Experts focused on topics like infection control in interventional pulmonology, role of surgery in

tuberculosis

treatment and

lung cancer

on the second day of the 73rd National Conference of Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases on Saturday.


The sessions highlighted various theoretical practises, new machinery and technological advancements.

Dr BK Iyer spoke about the five ‘P’s in the diagnosis of TB. He said the tests should be personalized, participatory, predictive, preventive and pertinent. He explained the TrueNat technology that he has developed to conduct tests which can be done in an hour.

“The device gives you a multitude of options in testing that you can do, and is cost-effective. It is developed as part of ‘Made in India’ initiative, he added.

Dr Milind Sovani spoke about non-invasive ventilation (NIV) technique. He explained through a video show how a tightly-fitted medical mask can be used to tackle a patient’s breathing problems instead of a tube. “The risk associated with a ventilation tube is high as doctors have to often administer anaesthesia or even paralyse the patient. NIV reduces the risk of these complications,” he added.

The conference, being held for the first time in Nagpur, saw delegates coming from all over the world. With TB taking the shape of a global emergency, the conference is aimed at educating doctors about the dangers and cure of the disease.

“People’s perception is changing. First it was thought that the disease spreads only in poverty-ridden areas, but it is not so. Even doctors stand the risk of contracting this disease. Hence, awareness about TB is essential,” said Dr Ravindra Sarnaik, organizing secretary of the programme.

On the first day of the conference, a workshop was held to make doctors aware about air-borne diseases and how to combat them. They were introduced to structural, environmental and personal profile approaches to fight air-borne diseases.

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