The clinical respiratory journal
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Comparative Study
Chest physiotherapy with early mobilization may improve extubation outcome in critically ill patients in the intensive care units.
Extubation failure can lead to a longer intensive care unit (ICU) stay, higher mortality rate, and higher risk of requiring tracheostomy. Chest physiotherapy (CPT) can help patients in reducing the accumulation of airway secretion, preventing collapsed lung, improving lung compliance, and reducing comorbidities. Much research has investigated the correlation between CPT and respiratory system clearance. However, few studies have investigated the correlation between CPT and failed ventilator extubation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the use of CPT for reducing the rate of failed removal from mechanical ventilators. ⋯ The results indicate that intensive chest physiotherapy could decrease extubation failure in mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU. In addition, chest physiotherapy could also significantly improve the rapid shallow breathing index score.
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The incidence and risk factors of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) have been well reported. However, in real world, patients diagnosed with PE for the first time were usually composed of acute PE, sub-acute PE, and chronic PE, and the cumulative incidence and risk factors of CTEPH in this cohort were still unknown. ⋯ In real world, CTEPH is a relatively common and serious complication in PE patients diagnosed for the first time. Early diagnosis and treatment of PE will decrease the incidence of CTEPH in these unspecified patients.
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Comparative Study
The association between Cytomegalovirus co-infection with Pneumocystis pneumonia and mortality in immunocompromised non-HIV patients.
Impact of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) co-infection pneumonia in non-HIV patients with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is unclear. ⋯ The risk of mortality appears to be increased in the setting of CMV and PCP co-infection in HIV-uninfected immunocompromised patients. PCP prophylaxis use was lower than expected, suggesting low physician awareness of the risks of PCP in this population.