Respiratory symposium report

This respiratory symposium focused on pleural disease, allergy and the new guidelines for oxygen delivery. The management of pleural disease is changing, partly due to safety concerns. For example, safer designs of the Seldinger drain are being developed and chest ultrasound is now recommended prior to siting an intercostal drain. Greater availability of medical and surgical thoracoscopy means there is less use of the Abrams pleural biopsy, although this has implications for the organisation and provision of services.