Aligarh: The Department of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases of J.N. Medical College at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has begun the medical thoracoscopy procedure at their laboratory.

Performing the first case under the procedure, Dr. Mohammad Shameem, Assistant Professor in the department said, "This procedure will help in the diagnosis of complicated pleural effusions. It is performed in few departments in India."

He further informed that few modifications had been done vis a vis conventional thoracoscopy, wherein he used a flexible thoracoscope instead of rigid and took biopsy by rigid forceps.

Dr Shameem had received training in the procedure from Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Malaysia, sponsored by the Asia Pacific Society of Respirology (Japan). He said that in near future we will start new diagnostic procedures like EBUS (Endobronchial Ultrasound), Laser, Autoflouresence etc.

Dr. Shameem had received Young Scientist award from UP Government this year. Prof Rakesh Bhargava and Prof Zuber Ahmad congratulated Dr. Shameem.