Clinics in chest medicine
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Clinics in chest medicine · Mar 2017
ReviewViral Pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
Respiratory viruses are a common cause of severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in adults. The advent of new diagnostic technologies, particularly multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, have increased the recognition of viral respiratory infections in critically ill adults. Supportive care for adults with ARDS caused by respiratory viruses is similar to the care of patients with ARDS from other causes. Although antiviral therapy is available for some respiratory viral infections, further research is needed to determine which groups of patients would benefit.
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The main goals of assessing respiratory system mechanical function are to evaluate the lung function through a variety of methods and to detect early signs of abnormalities that could affect the patient's outcomes. In ventilated patients, it has become increasingly important to recognize whether respiratory function has improved or deteriorated, whether the ventilator settings match the patient's demand, and whether the selection of ventilator parameters follows a lung-protective strategy. Ventilator graphics, esophageal pressure, intra-abdominal pressure, and electric impedance tomography are some of the best-known monitoring tools to obtain measurements and adequately evaluate the respiratory system mechanical function.
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Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has assumed a prominent role in the treatment of patients with both hypoxemic and hypercapnic acute respiratory failure (ARF). The main theoretic advantages of NIV include avoiding side effects and complications associated with endotracheal intubation, improving patient comfort, and preserving airway defense mechanisms. Factors that affect the success of NIV in patients with ARF are clinicians' expertise, selection of patient, choice of interface, selection of ventilator setting, proper monitoring, and patient motivation. Advances in the understanding of the physiologic aspects of using NIV through different interfaces and ventilator modalities have improved patient-machine interaction, thus enhancing favorable NIV outcome.
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Clinics in chest medicine · Dec 2016
ReviewThe Changing Role for Tracheostomy in Patients Requiring Mechanical Ventilation.
Tracheostomy is performed in patients who require prolonged mechanical ventilation or have upper airway instability. Percutaneous tracheostomy with Ciaglia technique is commonly used and rivals the surgical approach. ⋯ Early tracheostomy decreases the need for sedation and intensive care unit stay but may be unnecessary in some patients who can be extubated later successfully. A multidisciplinary approach to tracheostomy care leads to improved outcomes.
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Clinics in chest medicine · Dec 2016
ReviewExtracorporeal Gas Exchange: The Expanding Role of Extracorporeal Support in Respiratory Failure.
The use of extracorporeal support is expanding quickly in adult respiratory failure. Extracorporeal gas exchange is an accepted rescue therapy for severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in select patients. ⋯ The non-ARDS patient population is much larger, so the potential for rapid growth is high. This article hopes to inform decisions about the use of extracorporeal support by increasing understanding concerning the past and present practice of extracorporeal gas exchange.