Respiratory medicine
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Respiratory medicine · Jan 1991
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe effect of unproductive coughing/FET on regional mucus movement in the human lungs.
The study was designed to ascertain the movement of mucus from proximal and peripheral regions within the human lungs during cough and the forced expiration technique (FET). Mucus movement was measured using a radioaerosol technique. Seven patients (mean +/- SEM age: 63 +/- 3 years) with airways obstruction (% predicted FEV1: 44 +/- 4) participated in the study. ⋯ None of the patients produced sputum during the assessment periods. Both cough and FET compared with control increased, on average, mucus clearance from all regions; statistical significance was achieved only for central lung regions with cough (P less than 0.05). There was no significant correlation between PEFR during cough/FET and regional lung clearance.
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Respiratory medicine · Jan 1991
Intensive care management of community-acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae.
The clinical features of 18 patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae requiring intensive care unit (ICU) management are presented. All patients required ventilatory support; 17 were given constant positive pressure ventilation and 10 required greater than 10 cm positive end expiratory pressure. ⋯ Septicaemic shock, confusion and uncompensated metabolic acidosis were the presenting clinical features predicting a poor outcome. Antimicrobial chemotherapy, that combined an aminoglycoside and a third generation cephalosporin to ensure adequate early antibiotic serum levels, may help to improve the prognosis.