Chest
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COPD ranks within the top three causes of mortality in the global burden of disease, yet it remains largely underdiagnosed. We assessed the underdiagnosis of COPD and its determinants in national and international surveys of general populations. ⋯ Even with substantial heterogeneity in COPD prevalence, COPD underdiagnosis is universally high. Because effective management strategies are available for COPD, spirometry can help in the diagnosis of COPD at a stage when treatment will lead to better outcomes and improved quality of life.
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Case Reports
Three-dimensional Modeled T-tube Design and Insertion in a Patient With Tracheal Dehiscence.
A 68-year-old man with recurrent medullary thyroid cancer underwent cervical tracheal resection and reconstruction. His course was complicated by tracheal anastomotic dehiscence, right carotid blowout, and ultimately cervical tracheoplasty with AlloDerm. Given the complex vascular interventions and upper-airway anatomy, a custom-designed Montgomery T-tube was designed for him. ⋯ The patient was discharged to home with the ability to phonate. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of three-dimensional modeling of an upper-airway defect with subsequent T-tube design using engineering software. The success of this case demonstrates a possible avenue for personalized airway prosthesis design and manufacturing in the future.
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A 33-year-old man, never smoker, presented with acute-onset dyspnea secondary to bilateral pulmonary emboli. Echocardiography at the time revealed a right atrial myxoma, for which he underwent resection, followed by anticipated lifelong therapeutic anticoagulation therapy.