Chest
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
The effects of biofeedback assisted breathing retraining on lung functions in patients with cystic fibrosis.
This study examines the effects of respiratory muscle feedback and breathing retraining (BRT) on lung function in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Twenty-six patients with CF were matched for age and severity of disease. Standard respiratory spirometry was performed on all subjects before and after biofeedback training. ⋯ Results revealed a significant improvement in FEV1 and mean forced expiratory flow during the middle half of forced vital capacity (FVC) for the biofeedback group, while the control group showed no change. A similar trend was noted for FVC. These data suggest that respiratory muscle feedback and BRT may improve lung function in patients with CF.
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To evaluate wrist compression as a test to identify low radial from low systemic pressure and to see if the gradient found after cardiopulmonary bypass is also present whenever hand vascular resistance may decrease. ⋯ The systemic-radial artery pressure gradient seen at the end of cardiopulmonary bypass seems to be a phenomenon common to patients with decreased hand vascular resistance. Wrist compression decreases or abolishes the gradient in most cases. It does not produce false positives, so an increase indicates a greater aortic than radial pressure. The difference is likely to be only temporary.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
N-acetylcysteine enhances recovery from acute lung injury in man. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study.
To determine the effects of intravenous N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on the development of severe adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and mortality rate in patients with mild-to-moderate acute lung injury and to analyze the duration of ventilatory support and FIO2 required as well as the evolution of the lung injury score. ⋯ Intravenous NAC treatment during 72 h improved systemic oxygenation and reduced the need for ventilatory support in patients presenting with mild-to-moderate acute lung injury subsequent to a variety of underlying diseases. Development of ARDS and mortality were not reduced significantly by this therapy.
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Clinical Trial
Early sepsis treatment with immunoglobulins after cardiac surgery in score-identified high-risk patients.
In patients at risk for sepsis after cardiac surgery, the efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin (Ig) treatment was compared with a historical control population, equivalent in patient characteristics and disease severity. Using APACHE II scores, especially in the high-risk group (IgG), we could discriminate between low-risk patients (score < 19; mortality 1 percent) and the small groups at risk (score 19 to 23) and high risk (score > or = 24) with a significantly higher mortality (14 percent and 76 percent, respectively) [corrected]. ⋯ In this group, Ig therapy produced higher (p < 0.05) response rates (score decrease 7 within 4 days: IgG: 54 percent, IgGMA: 62 percent; controls: 19 percent) and reduced mortality (IgG: 46 percent, IgGMA: 46 percent; controls: 76 percent), statistically significant (p < 0.05) for Ig treatment overall. Thus, early Ig treatment improves disease severity and may improve prognosis in prospectively score-identified high-risk postcardiac surgical patients.
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Review Case Reports
Chylothorax in Gorham's syndrome. A common complication of a rare disease.
One hundred forty-six cases of Gorham's syndrome are documented in the literature. Twenty-five (17 percent) patients have been reported to have chylothorax as a complication. To our knowledge, this high incidence of chylothorax has not been reported previously. We describe two such patients treated by thoracic duct ligation and compared our results with others to support early surgical intervention via a low right-sided thoracotomy in these cases.