Respiration; international review of thoracic diseases
-
Hypoxemia is a frequent adverse event occurring during flexible bronchoscopy and is usually prevented by close monitoring and, if needed, oxygen supplementation by nasal cannula. ⋯ Tracheal oxygen supplementation is safe, feasible and an effective way to restore oxygen saturation levels during flexible bronchoscopy.
-
Multicenter Study
Respiratory Conditions Associated with Tracheobronchomegaly (Mounier-Kuhn Syndrome): A Study of Seventeen Cases.
Mounier-Kuhn syndrome (MKS) is a rare disorder characterized by enlargement of the trachea and main bronchi and associated with recurrent respiratory tract infections. ⋯ This is the largest series of MKS reported in the literature, showing that bronchiectasis and tracheobronchomalacia are the main associated morbid conditions that constitute a challenge for treatment.
-
Home oxygen therapy is a mainstay of treatment for patients with various cardiopulmonary diseases. In spite of warnings against smoking while using home oxygen, many patients sustain burn injuries. ⋯ This single-center analysis is one of the largest describing burn injuries stemming from smoking while using home oxygen therapy. We identified the morbidity and mortality associated with these injuries. Ongoing education and careful consideration of prescribing home oxygen therapy for known smokers is highly encouraged.
-
Endoscopic lung volume reduction with valves is a valid therapeutic option for COPD patients with severe emphysema. The exclusion of interlobar collateral ventilation (CV) is an important predictor of clinical success. ⋯ This study describes the most prevalent Chartis phenotypes.
-
Patients with severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) present a poor outcome. Specific PH treatment could improve the clinical and hemodynamic status of these patients but may worsen arterial blood gases. ⋯ This preliminary report suggests that the use of specific PH therapy in severe PH associated with mild-to-moderate COPD can improve pulmonary hemodynamic parameters, with worsening of PaO2, which had no clinical significance and did not lead to specific PAH therapy withdrawal in any patient.