The Association of Thoracic Anesthesiologists of the Philippines Inc. (Astaphil) is composed of anesthesiologists who have special interests and skills in non-cardiac thoracic anesthesia and airway management practice.

The Association of Thoracic Anesthesiologists of the Philippines Inc. (Astaphil) is holding its 1st Thoracic Anesthesia Symposium and Workshop on Sept. 1, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Luxent Hotel, Timog Ave. Quezon City.

Astaphil—whose proponents are Doctors Theresa Alcantara, Victoria Idolor and James Monje—is composed of anesthesiologists who have special interests and skills in non-cardiac thoracic anesthesia and airway management practice.

Thoracic surgery in the Philippines has advanced in the past decades, especially in the fields of optics and high-definition digital imaging.

Many surgeries are being performed via open and video-assisted techniques for a variety of conditions including resection of benign and malignant tumors of the lung, mediastinum and pleura, repair of bronchopleural fistula, trachea- bronchial reconstruction, esophageal surgery, flexible/ rigid bronchoscopies, airway surgery, and diagnostic thoracoscopies.

Most of these procedures demand lung isolation and one lung ventilation to facilitate exposure during surgery, provide optimum conditions during surgery, and maintain a stress-free environment in the operating theater.

At present Astaphil has 32 members who have completed and passed the rigorous fellowship training in thoracic anesthesiology at the Lung Center of the Philippines. Nineteen of them were conferred the title “Specialist in Thoracic Anesthesiology” by the Philippine Board of Anesthesiology in 2016.

These anesthesiologists are Mario Lirag, MD, DPBA; Theresa M. Alcantara, MD, DPBA; Victoria Idolor, MD, DPBA; Carina Dipasupil, MD, DPBA; James Monje, MD, DPBA; Dominador San Andres Jr, MD, DPBA; Ma. Stephanie Balaoing, MD, DPBA; Lizalyn Marie Revilla, MD, DPBA; Roan Jocson, MD, DPBA; Dominador Acosta, Jr, MD, DPBA; Khristine Marie Ilo-Ramos, MD, DPBA; May Hermoso, MD, DPBA; Ulga Luisa Casino-Bercasio, MD, DPBA; Aries Joshua Garibay, MD, DPBA; Lizbeth G. Jacaban, MD, DPBA; Aimee Glory Sudario- Villamor, MD, DPBA; Christian King Sorino, MD, DPBA; Rosaldro Biasbas, MD, DPBA; and Elwilynne QT Reyes, MD, DPBA.

The symposium program includes guest speakers from Australia, Germany, Singapore and Taiwan.

Expected to attend are delegates from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Email: [email protected]; tel. 426 5816 (Kathy)