Chest
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of oropharyngeal exercises on snoring: a randomized trial.
Snoring is extremely common in the general population and may indicate OSA. However, snoring is not objectively measured during polysomnography, and no standard treatment is available for primary snoring or when snoring is associated with mild forms of OSA. This study determined the effects of oropharyngeal exercises on snoring in minimally symptomatic patients with a primary complaint of snoring and diagnosis of primary snoring or mild to moderate OSA. ⋯ Oropharyngeal exercises are effective in reducing objectively measured snoring and are a possible treatment of a large population suffering from snoring.
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Despite literature suggesting benefits of using regional anesthesia, the impact of neuraxial anesthesia on perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing lung surgery remains unstudied. We studied the effect of combined neuraxial/general anesthesia (vs general anesthesia) on perioperative outcome in a large national sample of patients who underwent open lung resection. ⋯ This study illustrates the association between adding neuraxial to general anesthesia in open lung resections among patients with cancer and perioperative outcomes. Neuraxial anesthesia use was associated with decreased risk for blood transfusion but increased thromboembolic risks. Additional studies are needed to elucidate mechanisms by which neuraxial anesthesia may affect these outcomes.
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Patient satisfaction is an important factor for consideration in pulmonary practice management. Although evidence regarding the correlation of patient satisfaction with care quality remains mixed, there is an increasing national emphasis on the importance of patient experience in physician reimbursement, credentialing, and public opinion. ⋯ Physician credentialing may also be impacted by the American Board of Internal Medicine's Maintenance of Certification program and potential future requirements for physicians to assess the patient experience to maintain certification. In the continually evolving health-care delivery, credentialing, and reimbursement climate, a thorough understanding of the increasing importance of patient satisfaction as well as strategies for successfully approaching this issue are essential to modern pulmonary inpatient and outpatient practice management.
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Biography Historical Article
Giants in Chest Medicine: John (Jack) G. Weg, MD, Master FCCP.