Respiration; international review of thoracic diseases
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Reducing hyperinflated areas in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, either surgically or endoscopically, leads to improvement of functional parameters. It is unclear if bilateral treatment with endobronchial valves (EBV) aiming at total lobar occlusion is beneficial. The aim of this study was to assess the results after staged bilateral endoscopic treatment with EBV. ⋯ Patients benefitted from the first EBV treatment. The second treatment did not lead to marked improvements compared to the first treatment. Bilateral lung volume reduction with valves is possible; however, the current results seem not to justify bilateral valve treatment as a routine approach.
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Endoscopes represent the medical devices most commonly linked to health care-associated outbreaks and pseudo-outbreaks. Most of the recent outbreaks and pseudo-outbreaks have resulted from contaminated automated endoscope reprocessors (AER) or the use of damaged or malfunctioning bronchoscopes or contaminated equipment. ⋯ We described a pseudo-outbreak related to a contaminated bronchoscope because of inadequate installation of the AER for used new water lines and because the new tubes were connected to the AER. The antibacterial filters of the AER used tap water, and this may have contained low levels of microorganisms. No serious clinical complications derived from this pseudo-outbreak.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Validity and Reliability of the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire in Elderly Individuals with Mild to Moderate Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis.
The chronic respiratory disease questionnaire (CRDQ) is designed to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in chronic respiratory conditions, but its reliability, validity and responsiveness in individuals with mild to moderate non-cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis are unclear. ⋯ The CRDQ is a valid and reliable measure of HRQOL in mild to moderate non-CF bronchiectasis, but responsiveness was limited.