Respiration; international review of thoracic diseases
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
The effect of tiotropium on hyperinflation and exercise capacity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by airflow limitation, which results in the progressive development of dyspnea and exercise limitation. ⋯ Tiotropium 18 mug once daily reduced hyperinflation with consequent improvements in walking distance and HRQoL in patients with COPD and lung hyperinflation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Repeated pulmonary rehabilitation in severe and disabled COPD patients.
The optimal frequency of delivering a pulmonary rehabilitation program (PR) is not yet a well established issue. It is still unclear whether repeated PR at established intervals will result in effective maintenance or further improvement in the patient's health status. ⋯ In severe and disabled COPD, a more frequently repeated inpatient PR may lead to some additional physiological and clinical benefits over 1 year.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Airway clearance in bronchiectasis: a randomized crossover trial of active cycle of breathing techniques versus Acapella.
The efficacy of a new airway clearance device (Acapella) has not been previously investigated. Active cycle of breathing techniques (ACBT) is the standard airway clearance technique used in patients with bronchiectasis. ⋯ Acapella is as effective a method of airway clearance as ACBT and may offer a user-friendly alternative to ACBT for patients with bronchiectasis.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Long-term oxygen therapy stops the natural decline of endurance in COPD patients with reversible hypercapnia.
Respiratory muscle weakness is one of the most important causes of hypercapnia in patients with COPD. There is evidence that stable hypercapnic patients will benefit from long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT). ⋯ COPD patients with reversible hypercapnia and mild hypoxaemia benefit from LTOT in terms of endurance time and a reduction of exertional dyspnoea after 1 year.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Acute antiarrhythmic effects of bi-level positive airway pressure ventilation in patients with acute respiratory failure caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized clinical trial.
Cardiac arrhythmias are common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and acute respiratory failure (ARF) and may be life threatening. Recently, non-invasive positive pressure ventilation has been advanced as a useful tool in COPD patients with ARF. This method can affect global cardiac performance through its effects on many determinants of cardiac function and may be helpful in reducing arrhythmias. ⋯ Cardiac arrhythmias decreased significantly in both groups after the start of both treatments, although data obtained from group 1 revealed a more important statistical significance. Our data seem to support the hypothesis that BiPAP may be a useful tool in managing COPD patients with ARF and mild arrhythmias.