Respiration; international review of thoracic diseases
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The acute effects of thoracentesis on arterial oxygenation were observed in 19 studies on 17 patients. Arterial blood samples were obtained prior to, immediately after, and 1 h after thoracentesis. ⋯ It was concluded that significant hypoxemia may result from thoracentesis due to aberration of ventilation-perfusion relationships. It is further suggested that oxygen therapy be routinely administered during and immediately after the procedure.
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Reasoning from known effects of salbutamol on the bronchial smooth muscle cell and their enhancement in asthmatics through steroids, this communication proposes a method employing these substances in such a way as to prevent bronchospasm during fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Following split-dosage administration of 100 mg prednisolone prior to bronchoscopy, a total of 3.75 mg salbutamol in a diluted saline solution is instilled intrabronchially through the biopsy channel. ⋯ In a control group of 17 chronic bronchitics showing an improvement of 15% in flow rates after bronchodilators, no significant change was seen in FEV1 and FVC following fiberbronchoscopy. This procedure not only renders the diagnostic bronchofiberscopy relatively safe in asthmatics, but may be of use within the context of intensive care in serious bronchospasm refractive to conventional therapy.