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Welcome to NAPCON Varanasi
Dr. D Behera
President, ICS
I welcome all the practicing pulmonologists, My greetings to all the learned
academicians, and residents to the gala
academic extravaganza of NAPCON 2021,
the 23rd Joint Conference on Pulmonary
Diseases Organized by the Indian Chest
Society and National College of Chest
Physicians. The scientific program for
NAPCON 2021 is excellent, and the
learning and networking opportunities
are outstanding. I am sure, the backdrop
of the ancient city of Varanasi would add
to the joy of the meeting and provide
lasting memories beyond science. My
thanks to the organizers that have done an
exceptional job of organizing this event in
such tough times.
Dr J K Samaria
Organizing Chairman
It gives me immense pleasure to welcome
you to the NAPCON 2021. Varanasi,
considered among the world’s oldest living
cities, also resembles ancient wisdom.
I believe having this year’s NAPCON in
Varanasi reiterates the role of ancient
values, such as resilience, strength,
skill, innovation, and hope in helping the
speciality of respiratory medicine find
its optimal place. Please make the best
use of the NAPCON, Varanasi to broaden
and magnify your insights into the recent
research and cutting-edge technologies in
respiratory medicine. I wish you a great
success in extracting the maximum value
out of the NAPCON, Varanasi
Workshop In Focus: Conventional
Transbronchial Needle Aspiration
Presented by
Dr. Balamugesh T
In this era of sophisticated technology,
the role of conventional methods remains
an important question in interventional
pulmonology. With the advent of newer
technologies, do the conventional
technologies hold any advantage besides
low costs? The best answer to such
questions can only come from experts
who have worked for a long time with both
the older and newer technologies. Very
few experts could examine this aspect in
the context of conventional TBNA versus
EBUS-TBNA as meticulously as was done
by Prof. Balamugesh in the workshop on
bronchoscopy held alongside NAPCON
2021 in Varanasi.
In his brilliant talk, Dr. Balamugesh
Dr. D J Roy
President Elect, ICS
pulmonologists attending this signature
event, NAPCON 2021, the 23rd Joint
Conference on Pulmonary Diseases
Organized by the Indian Chest Society
and National College of Chest Physicians,
in Varanasi. Building on the success of
previous NAPCONs, the theme for 2021
is Commemorating Respiratory Care:
Resilience, Strength, Skill, Innovation,
& Hope. I look forward to the excellent
discussions, that are the hallmark of the
NAPCONs, surrounding the latest science
on the most pressing topics of our times.
My best wishes for a successful conference
and many thanks to all organizers.
Dr Kumar Utsav
Organizing Secretar y
On behalf of the Organizing Committee, it
is my great pleasure and honor to welcome
you to the NAPCON 2021, the 23rd Joint
Conference on Pulmonary Diseases
Organized by the Indian Chest Society
and National College of Chest Physicians.
The heritage city “Kashi” now offers
many new attractions, including the Shri
Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor. I hope
NAPCON 2021 will set a benchmark for
forthcoming NAPCONs because of its
extraordinary scientific program designed
to fulfill every participant’s quest for
learning and development. I look forward
to your exciting participation and a pleasant
stay in the NAPCON, Varanasi.
elucidated the advantages and role of
conventional TBNA in the current era.
In addition, he emphasized the technical
aspects that can ensure the efficacy and
safety of the procedure. He mentioned
that although the addition of EBUS
converted the conventional TBNA into a
level 3 procedure studies have shown no
significant difference between the primary
outcomes for the two procedures in the
settings of mediastinal lymphadenopathy.
Dr. Balamugesh concluded that
conventional TBNA continues to play a role
in mediastinal lymphadenopathy evaluation
when the size is >15 mm and the location
is subcarinal. Contrarily, EBUS-TBNA has
advantages when the size is <15 mm, in
restaging procedures, and when there is a
need for assurance of diagnosis. Further, he
highlighted six technical “T”s that can help
assure the best outcomes with conventional
Dr. B O Tayade
President, NCCP
I am pleased to welcome you to NAPCON
2021, Varanasi. The NAPCON is the premier
platform for the presentation of emerging
pulmonology science and technology as well
as networking opportunities. In NAPCON,
Varanasi, the scientific program is both
exciting and ground-breaking in its wide-
ranging and multidisciplinary content with
relevance to all practitioners of pulmonology
and respiratory medicine, regardless of
their workplace setting. In addition to
abstract presentations, lectures, debates,
panel discussions, the NAPCON also
offers workshops for achieving all-around
professional growth. My best wishes to you
for making the optimal use of the NAPCON,
Varanasi.
Dr. Mohit Bhatia
Organizing Secretar y
On behalf of the Organizing Committee, I
take great pride in welcoming the esteemed
pulmonologists from all parts of India to
the 23rd edition of the NAPCON in the
holy city of Varanasi. Varanasi is regarded
as the “spiritual capital of India” and I
hope that you will have a memorable and
rewarding experience here, which you will
cherish for years to come. Friends, let us
participate passionately in this magnificent
congregation in this ancient and a wisdom-
rich city of Varanasi. I send you my best
wishes for a treasured experience in the
NAPCON 2021.
TBNA, including tomography, type of
needle, technique, tissue preparation, tissue
interpretation, and a trained assistant. For
the benefit of the delegates, he also shared
several useful best practices for performing
TBNA (Figure 1).
Some Tips
• In order to avoid false positive results,
needle aspiration should be performed
prior to airway inspection or biopsies of
endobronchial abnormalities.
• Suction should be released prior to
removing the needle from the tumor or
lymph node in order to avoid contamination
from bronchial wall tissue.
• Lymph nodes denoting worse prognosis
should be aspirated first, ie, N3 before N2 clinical criteria and predictors of clinical
and N2 before N1, using the same needle,
in patients with multiple sites of nodal
involvement
Figure 1. Best Practices For Conventional TBNA
Dr. S N Gaur
Secretar y, NCCP
It is my privilege to welcome you to this
august gathering of NAPCON 2021. The
NAPCONs are huge platforms for the
dissemination of knowledge, networking,
innovations, and collaboration. This is the
best time to focus your attention on the
recent outstanding achievements in the
field of pulmonology. I am sure NAPCON
2021 will offer you top-level quality research
and knowledge. So friends, let’s live up
to their expectations and participate
wholeheartedly in this grand gathering. My
best wishes for a fruitful NAPCON 2021 and
a heartfelt thanks to the organizers for their
persistent efforts and hard work.
Dr. J K Mishra
Co-Chair, Organizing Committee
On behalf of the Organizing Committee,
I am delighted to welcome the countless
pulmonologists from all corners of India to
the gala event of the NAPCON 2021. This
NAPCON is happening in one of the oldest
cities in the world known for the Ganges,
Shiva, Wisdom, Hinduism, Spirituality,
and Moksha. It is indeed my privilege
to welcome the delegates and faculty to
the 23rd joint conference of the ICS and
NCCP. We wish to make your experience
excellent in terms of learning, hospitality,
and entertainment. I look forward to your
enthusiastic participation in the NAPCON
2021.
Continued from Page 1
Workshop Spotlight
Blood eosinophils Non-atopic Atopic asthma Sputum eosinophils
eosinophilic asthma with eosinophilia
Anti IL5-Mepolizumab, Omalizumab (A)
Reslizumab, Benralizumab(A) Anti IL5-Mepolizumab,
Reslizumab,
Omalizumab (POC) (C) Benralizumab(A)
T2 low asthma Atopic asthma
Omalizumab (A)
Bronchial thermoplasty(B)
Macrolides(C)
Wt loss(B)
Serum total IgE
Figure 1. Matrix for Biologic Selection in Severe
Asthma According to Type 2 Phenotypes and Endotypes.
Dr. Marwah summarized the GINA
response that can further optimize the
biologic selection in severe asthma. He
cautioned that there may be a clinical
overlap between severe allergic and severe
eosinophilic asthma that may mandate
switching of biologics. He concluded that
while phenotypic heterogeneity had guided
the early precision medicine for asthma,
the future of precision medicine in severe
asthma will be based on the endotypic
heterogeneity of asthma.