Chest
-
Review
Macrolides for Clinically Significant Bronchiectasis in Adults: Who Should Receive this Treatment?
Long-term macrolide therapy offers an evidence-based treatment to reduce frequent exacerbations in stable adult patients with bronchiectasis. There is limited evidence that these agents also attenuate the decline in lung function and improve health-related quality of life. ⋯ Further work is needed to understand the optimal drug, dose, and regimen, the mechanisms behind these benefits, appropriate patient selection, sustainability of efficacy, potential long-term risk for the lung microbiome; and their use with or without inhaled antibiotic treatment. We reviewed the current evidence on long-term macrolides in adults with bronchiectasis.
-
Right ventricular (RV) function is a major determinant of exercise intolerance and outcome in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension. The aim of the study was to evaluate the incremental prognostic value of echocardiography of the right ventricle and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) on long-term prognosis in these patients. ⋯ Echocardiography combined with CPET provides relevant clinical and prognostic information. A combination of low RVFAC and low O2 pulse identifies patients at a particularly high risk of clinical deterioration.
-
OSA is a risk factor for a first episode of pulmonary embolism (PE), although its impact on the risk of thromboembolism recurring is uncertain. Our objective was to explore the prognostic value of OSA after the discontinuation of oral anticoagulation (OAC) in patients with a first episode of PE. ⋯ After a first episode of PE, OSA is an independent risk factor for PE recurrence or restarting OAC for a new thromboembolic event.
-
Although endobronchial coils for the treatment of severe emphysema are associated with an acceptable safety profile, adverse events such as pneumothorax and thoracic pain may occur. The coils are indicated as a permanent implant and are deemed very difficult to remove. We describe the first successful removal of two coils 10 months after placement in a patient who experienced persistent thoracic pain. This case report highlights that very distal (subpleural) coil placement may induce pneumothorax and subsequent thoracic pain and that nonsurgical removal of coils up to 10 months after implantation is feasible.
-
A woman in her 60s with a history of hepatitis C with cirrhosis and major depressive disorder with psychotic features was admitted to the inpatient psychiatric unit for suicidal ideation. She was initially treated with a combination of sertraline and paliperidone. The paliperidone was subsequently changed to risperidone and ultimately to olanzapine. ⋯ Over 2 days, her mental status continued to worsen and she developed fever and tachycardia. She was transferred to the ICU and endotracheally intubated for inability to protect her airway. She was started on lactulose via orogastric tube but showed no improvement in her mental status after 2 days despite having two or three bowel movements per day.