Chest
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To examine the effect of cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on pulmonary vascular permeability. ⋯ Cardiopulmonary bypass induces a pulmonary vascular leak, as assessed by 67Ga kinetics using a bedside detection technique, in some cardiac surgery patients with prolonged CPB. This leak may reflect pulmonary vascular injury and increased permeability, following activation of leukocytes by CPB and subsequent pulmonary sequestration, rather than increased filtration through pressure factors. It may contribute to impaired gas exchange, even in the absence of manifest alveolar edema of the lungs, after surgery.
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Case Reports
Mitral prosthetic dehiscence with laminar regurgitant flow signals assessed by transesophageal echocardiography.
A patient with a Björk-Shiley mitral prosthesis developed progressive heart failure without heart murmur and hemolysis. The prosthetic dehiscence was not diagnosed using transthoracic echocardiography, but transesophageal echocardiography. The regurgitant signals revealed laminar flow pattern with large regurgitant orifice. In patients with mitral prosthetic dehiscence with laminar flow pattern, transesophageal echocardiography can provide reliable diagnostic information.
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Previous studies have shown that a significant proportion of patients and physicians have difficulty using metered dose inhaler (MDI) delivery systems. It has been suggested that paramedical personnel such as pharmacists could address this problem by serving as patient educators. Few studies have assessed a pharmacist's knowledge of and ability to use inhaled devices, including not only the conventional MDI but newer devices such as an add-on spacing chamber (Aerochamber) and a multidose dry powder inhaler (Turbuhaler). ⋯ The mean score was 50 percent with only 21 percent of pharmacists scoring above 70 percent. Thirty-three percent of respondents had no instruction in device use beyond reading the packing insert; 40 percent had received instruction from a pharmaceutical representative; only 24 percent had received instructions from professional school. We conclude that a pharmacist's knowledge of inhaling devices is roughly proportional to the length of time the device has been available and that pharmacists form another group of health care professionals who require further teaching regarding inhaled medication delivery systems.