The clinical respiratory journal
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Readiness to speak is a major problem for many tracheostomized patients. Evaluation for tracheostomy tube capping or speaking valve is often subjective. ⋯ Tracheostomy tube manometry is very helpful in objectively guiding recommendations for speaking valve use, capping, and changing tracheostomy tubes. Speech is an early recommendation for most patients.
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The global initiative for COPD (GOLD) adopted the degree of airway obstruction as a measure of the severity of the disease. The objective of this study was to apply CT to assess the extent of emphysema in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and relate this extent to the GOLD stage of airway obstruction. ⋯ The extent of emphysema increases with increasing severity of COPD and most patients with COPD have emphysema. Tissue destruction by emphysema is therefore an important determinant of disease severity in COPD.