Thoracic Medicine

The Department of Thoracic Medicine provides services in the broad area of lung disease. It is the largest Thoracic Medicine Department in South Australia and operates a number of state-wide services. The Department provides diagnostic services in breathing and sleep disorders for inpatients and outpatients of the Royal Adelaide Hospital and is also active in basic and applied research.

Location

The Department is spread across a number of areas of the Royal Adelaide Hospital Campus.

• Inpatient facility - North Wing Ward S2
• Outpatients - Chest Clinic Building
• Thoracic Procedure Suite - North Wing Ward S2
• Lung Function Laboratory - Outpatient Building L7 West
• Sleep Disorders Laboratory - McEwin Building L6
• Lung Research Laboratory - Hanson Centre
• Clinical Trials Unit - Chest Clinic Building

State-Wide Services

The Department operates three state wide services. These are:-

• South Australian Tuberculosis Service - responsible for the monitoring and control of TB throughout South Australia.
• Adult Cystic Fibrosis Service - responsible for all aspects of care of adults with cystic fibrosis throughout South Australia.
• Lung Transplant Service - responsible for pre- and post-operative care of lung transplant recipients in South Australia.

Clinical Programs

In addition to the state wide services, the Department has clinical programs in all areas of Thoracic Medicine. These include:-

• Asthma
• Lung Cancer
• Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (Emphysema)
• Sleep Disorders
• Clinical Trials

Diagnostic Services

The Department provides diagnostic services for inpatients of the hospital, outpatients of Thoracic Medicine and patients referred externally. The services are:-

• Bronchoscopy (including therapeutic airway management by laser and stents)
• Lung Function testing
• Sleep Disorders testing