RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Rigid bronchoscopy-essential experience for respiratory trainees? JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP PA316 DO 10.1183/13993003.congress-2015.PA316 VO 46 IS suppl 59 A1 Konda, Shruthi A1 Narayan, Srividya A1 Molanguri, Praveen A1 Madden, Brendan YR 2015 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA316.abstract AB Respiratory trainees in the UK have limited exposure to large airway intervention (biopsy, stent insertion and laser ablation) via Rigid Bronchoscopy (RB). The Respiratory Curriculum does not insist on awareness of RB.Aim: To investigate the benefit of experience of RB as part of Respiratory Training.Method: Trainees completing a minimum of a 3 month rotation in an 'Interventional' job between 2013 and 2014, which involves performing regular RB lists, were asked to complete a written questionnaire on their experience of RB. This included 8 trainees and a 100% response was obtained.Results: At the start, only 20% of trainees were aware of all indications for performing RB. 80% of trainees believed that RB was the domain of Thoracic Surgeons and only 20% had ever seen RB being performed before. The trainees performed an average of 40 supervised procedures, and 10% of them felt that they would confidently be able to attempt RB independently, at the end of the job.60% of trainees experienced no complications. There were two life threatening bleeds and a stent fracture/migration (all successfully treated endobronchially). All trainees gained confidence during the job, stating that RB experience improved understanding of bronchial anatomy and enabled diagnosis of proximal tumours.100% of trainees thought that Respiratory Physicians would benefit from experience of RB, but highlighted that RB could only be performed in specialist centres with adequate technical and human resources.Conclusion: Experience of RB is minimal for UK Respiratory trainees. The results suggest that this experience would improve procedural skills and the management of lung cancer, with increased referral rates for diagnosis of proximal tumours.