Chest
-
Case Reports
Acute Tracheal Necrosis After Intubation in a Childhood Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
Upper airway involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease process is uncommon. A 15-year-old girl, a known patient with class IVA lupus nephritis, presented in acute renal failure due to flare-up of SLE. ⋯ After 36 hours of extubation, she developed biphasic stridor and severe shortness of breath that was unresponsive to multiple medications. Prompt airway evaluation by laryngoscopy and confirmation of acute tracheal necrosis by histopathology along with reintubation and high-dose steroid therapy resulted in good outcome and recovery.
-
A 79-year-old man with medical history of atrial fibrillation and esophageal cancer status post trans-hiatal esophageal resection and chemotherapy presented with altered mental status after outpatient esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). One month before presentation, the patient was seen at another hospital with severe anemia and melena requiring transfusion of multiple units of RBCs. No endoscopy was performed during that admission, but his anticoagulation was held. ⋯ His esophagogastroduodenoscopy demonstrated an intact esophagogastric anastomosis as well as two gastric ulcers with no stigmata of recent bleeding. The patient was discharged to home in good condition with normal mental status. Several hours later, he developed a deteriorating level of consciousness, prompting presentation to the hospital.
-
Eccentric cycling (ECC) may be an attractive exercise method in COPD because of both low cardiorespiratory demand and perception of effort compared with conventional concentric cycling (CON) at matched mechanical loads. However, it is unknown whether ECC can be performed by individuals with COPD at an intensity able to cause sufficient metabolic stress to improve aerobic capacity. ⋯ Cardiopulmonary and blood lactate responses during submaximal ECC were less compared with during CON at equivalent mechanical workloads in healthy participants and COPD patients, and this was confirmed at a muscle level in COPD patients. Submaximal ECC was well tolerated and allowed greater mechanical work at lower ventilatory cost. However, in people with COPD, a training intervention based on ECC is unlikely to stimulate cardiovascular and metabolic adaptation to the same extent as CON.
-
A 39-year-old previously healthy woman presented to the hospital with a nonproductive cough, small-volume hemoptysis, and exertional dyspnea. In addition, she reported a 4-week history of progressive left-sided headache, retro-orbital pain, left ear conductive hearing loss, fever, chills, anorexia, and a 10-lb weight loss. She had no prior sick contacts or history of respiratory tract infections. ⋯ The patient was a lifelong nonsmoker. She worked as a field consultant in Northern Manitoba communities. While in the hospital, she developed new symptoms of "unquenchable thirst," polydipsia, and polyuria.