Chest
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To assess the effects of acute cardioselective beta blockade on ventilatory function in patients with COPD and active cardiac disorders, 50 patients were studied during intravenous infusion of esmolol. All patients had an obstructive ventilatory component on baseline pulmonary function testing, and 58 percent had a significant bronchodilator response to inhaled albuterol. ⋯ No patient experienced dyspnea or wheezing with acute esmolol infusion; however, three patients (6 percent) developed asymptomatic decreases of FEV1. It is concluded that acute beta blockade with esmolol can be achieved in patients with COPD and cardiac disorders with little risk of bronchospasm.
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Arterial blood gas analysis was performed before and after 60 to 90 s of voluntary hyperventilation in 27 consecutive patients with occlusive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) and daytime hypercapnia. The percentage of fall in PaCO2 from baseline was examined in relationship to age, body mass index, sleep-disordered breathing indices, and pulmonary function variables. In 14 subjects without airflow obstruction, only one individual could not voluntarily hyperventilate into the normal range, whereas 6 of 13 subjects with airflow obstruction could not hyperventilate to eucapnia. ⋯ Although the baseline PaCO2 did not correlate with FEV1, the posthyperventilation PaCO2 did (r = 0.54, p = 0.003). Voluntary hyperventilation studies herein suggest a predominant role for impairment of ventilatory control in the maintenance of hypercapnia in OSA since a fall of PaCO2 into the normal range can usually be obtained. The correlation between the percentage of fall in PaCO2 and spirometric measures of respiratory mechanics, as well as the inability of some subjects to normalize the PaCO2 voluntarily suggests an added role for respiratory mechanical impairment in obesity hypoventilation.
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Although rarely considered in series of lower airway foreign bodies, endobronchial sutures can cause chronic cough or hemoptysis years after thoracic surgery. Eight endobronchial sutures were found in six patients who had undergone surgery four to 30 years prior to admission. Symptoms began two to 25 years after surgery and lasted from two to six years prior to diagnosis. ⋯ Suture removal was performed with either forceps or endoscopic suture scissors to cut the suture followed by extraction with forceps. Symptoms resolved within three days and granulation tissue by two to four weeks after suture removal. This series suggests that endobronchial suture should be considered in patients with a history (even remote) of previous thoracic surgery who present with chronic, persistent cough unresponsive to specific therapy for any underlying pulmonary disease.