Respiratory Medicine

The Department of Respiratory Medicine at Sengkang General Hospital provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care for a wide variety of pulmonary disorders. The pulmonary and critical care physicians offer an extensive range of clinical programmes to improve patient outcomes in respiratory and critical care medicine.

The department is supported by services in all aspects of ambulatory pulmonary patient care, including pulmonary function laboratory and endoscopy suites. The Sleep Clinic which is equipped with both inpatient and ambulatory sleep laboratory services aid in the diagnosis and management of sleep-related problems. By integrating clinical expertise, research and modern technology, the department strives to provide the best medical care and services for their patients.

Our Clinical Services

The clinical services provided by the Department of Respiratory Medicine encompass a variety of respiratory and critical care treatments for both inpatient and outpatient care. They include:

Diagnosis and management of airway disorders (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis) - including severe asthma requiring biologics
Evaluation and management of diffuse parenchymal lung disease
Diagnosis and treatment of lung infections (including tuberculosis)
Evaluation and management of chronic cough
Evaluation and management of haemoptysis
Evaluation and management of pleural disorders (pneumothorax, pleural effusions)
Evaluation and management of patients requiring chronic Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV)
Evaluation and management of long term oxygen
Evaluation and management of sleep disorder breathing (obstructive sleep apnoea, obesity hypoventilation syndrome) - for more information, you can refer to SKH Department of Sleep Medicine page here.

Our Department Facilities

Ambulatory clinics
Pulmonary Diagnostics @ SKH Clinical Measurement Centre is equipped with modern computerized apparatus which can offer a wide variety of lung function testing for inpatients, outpatients, direct referrals from primary care partners and other hospitals. Available tests include:

Spirometry with or without reversibility testing
Lung volumes (body plethysmography and nitrogen washout)
Diffusion Capacity
Maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures
Maximal voluntary ventilation
Fractional Exhaled nitric oxide
Pulse oximetry
Skin prick test for aeroallergens
Oxygen titration at rest / exercise
Bronchoprovocation tests:

Methacholine challenge test
Exercise induced asthma test
Hypertonic saline challenge test

Six-minute walking test

Endoscopy room

Diagnostic services include flexible bronchoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchial biopsy, transbronchial lung biopsy under fluoroscopy, endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and medical thoracoscopy.

Pleural Service

Focused thoracic ultrasound
Thoracocentesis and pleural drainage
Closed pleural biopsy
In-dwelling pleural catheter

Sleep disorder service

Sleep medicine clinics: This clinic will see patients with sleep disordered breathing (including obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), insomnias, parasomnias, narcolepsy and abnormal sleep movements.
Inpatient polysomnogram
Multiple sleep latency testing
Ambulatory sleep study / pulse oximetry / actigraphy
CPAP counselling and rental services