Respiration; international review of thoracic diseases
-
Supportive and palliative care is an interdisciplinary challenge with the aims of symptom relief and improvement of quality of life in end-stage patients. Main complaints of patients with advanced nonmalignant lung disease are depression and anxiety, dyspnea, pain, and coughing. ⋯ Furthermore, continuing education for health professionals in palliative care ensures adequate palliative support. Here, we review insights into symptom control and palliative care in patients with advanced nonmalignant respiratory disease.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison of noninvasive ventilation by sequential use of mask and helmet versus mask in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a preliminary study.
Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) using a face mask is the ventilatory mode of choice in selected patients experiencing acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A high incidence of intolerance limits the use of this approach. ⋯ In patients with acute exacerbation of COPD and undergoing NPPV, the sequential use of a mask and helmet diminished the incidence of failure. Under the present experimental conditions, the use of a helmet increased LOS and the duration of artificial ventilation.
-
Lung cancer is not only the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, but it is still the leading cause for cancer-related death. The 5-year survival for lung cancer in Europe and in the USA is totally 16%. Therefore, a palliative therapy regimen is required to control the disease and reduce symptoms with the objective of enhancing quality of life of lung cancer patients. ⋯ The therapy of SVC syndrome is dependent of histology. In small-cell lung cancer, chemotherapy is recommended. In non-small-cell lung cancer, stent insertion and/or radiotherapy are the therapeutic pillars.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
The total face mask is more comfortable than the oronasal mask in noninvasive ventilation but is not associated with improved outcome.
Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NPPV) is commonly used to improve ventilation and oxygenation and avoid endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. Although clinically indicated, most patients fail to use NPPV due to mask intolerance. A total face mask was designed to increase compliance, but whether this translates into better outcome (improvement in clinical and blood gas parameters and less intubation) is unknown. ⋯ The total face mask was more comfortable, allowing the patients to tolerate NPPV longer; however, these accomplishments did not translate into a better outcome. Due to its comfort, the total face mask should be available, at least as an option, in units where NPPVs are routinely applied.
-
Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with markers for allergy and asthma severity in children with asthma. However, its association with Chinese adult asthmatics has not been studied. ⋯ Vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent in Chinese asthma patients, and vitamin D status was associated with lung function.