ERS Assembly 14: Clinical techniques, imaging and endoscopy

Group 14.01
Chair: Ales Rozman
Secretary: Efsun Gonca Uğur Chousein

This Group covers the following procedures:

• Bronchoscopy (flexible and rigid instruments).
• Diagnostic procedures ranging from simple bronchial wash to transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA), transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB), autofluorescence (AF) and endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS); therapeutic procedures include foreign body removal, airway dilatation, laser, electrocautery, argon beamer, cryotherapy, brachytherapy, photodynamic therapy and stenting.
• Pleural biopsy/transthoracic needle aspiration of lung: cytology, histology and culture.
• Thoracoscopy: investigation of pleural disease and peripheral pulmonary lesions, drainage of pleural effusions including empyema, pleurodesis with sealants, such as talc for pneumothorax and malignant effusions.
• Tracheostomy: classic and percutaneous, mini-tracheostomy, and tracheal oxygen catheters.

Our Group is very active in establishing guidelines, performing surveys and developing cutting-edge technology for the detection of early lung cancer.

Group 14.02
Chair: Helmut Prosch
Secretary: Sara Piciucchi

This is a small but dynamic Group which includes thoracic radiologists, pulmologists and specialists in nuclear medicine. We organise many activities within the ERS: postgraduate courses, lectures and grand rounds. One of our central aims is to promote co-operation with other ERS Groups.

In recent years, this has resulted in joint interdisciplinary activities at the International Congress, notably in the fields of occupational lung disease and oncology. One of the highlights of every ERS Congress is the radiology grand round, which is organised by our Group.

Group 14.03
Chair: Søren Helbo Skaarup
Secretary: Maged Hassan

Ultrasound is becoming an increasingly important bedside tool for diagnosing, monitoring and procedure guidance in patients with respiratory diseases. The ultrasound group covers all clinical aspects of thoracic ultrasound (TUS) and other relevant ultrasound procedures within the field of respiratory medicine.
Central for the group is to ensure evidence based training and clinical use of thoracic ultrasound, by ensuring active ERS involvement in ensuring training at an international level as well as ensuring the development of international clinical guidelines.
The group also has an ambition to facilitate research projects as well as ensuring ERS early career members and opportunity to get involved in ERS TUS activities at all levels.