Respiratory medicine
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Respiratory medicine · Sep 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe effect of bi-level positive airway pressure on postoperative pulmonary function following gastric surgery for obesity.
The severely obese patient has varying degrees of intrinsic reduction of expiratory flow rates and lung volumes. Thus, the severely obese patient is predisposed to postoperative atelectasis, ineffective clearing of respiratory secretions, and other pulmonary complications. This study evaluated the effect of bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) on pulmonary function in obese patients following open gastric bypass surgery Patients with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 40 kg/m2 who were undergoing elective gastric bypass were eligible to be randomized to receive either BiPAP during the first 24 h postoperatively or conventional postoperative care. ⋯ Prophylactic BiPAP during the first 12-24 h postoperatively resulted in significantly higher measures of pulmonary function in severely obese patients who had undergone elective gastric bypass surgery. These improved measures of pulmonary function, however, did not translate into fewer hospital days or a lower complication rate in our study population of otherwise healthy obese patients. Further study is necessary to determine if BiPAP therapy in the first 24 postoperative hours would be of benefit in severely obese patients with comorbid illnesses who have undergone elective gastric bypass.
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Respiratory medicine · Sep 2002
Does inspiratory behaviour affect the efficiency of non-invasive ventilation in COPD patients?
Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is more and more used. Some failures of the technique have been reported, and efforts are needed to understand them. Collaboration (inspiratory behaviour) of the patient during NIV could play a role in the success of this technique. ⋯ Results of ventilation, PEEPi and work parameters were identical during the bilevel pressure support (15/5 cm H2O). The aims of NIV being to increase ventilation and unload the inspiratory muscles, our results suggest that during NIV, a relaxed spontaneous breathing is preferable. These differences between the inspiratory behaviours could affect the expected benefits of PSV in acutely ill patients.
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A retrospective analysis of 108 patients admitted to the hospital for hemoptysis in the year 2000 was performed. The aim of the study was to clarify the etiologic distribution of hemoptysis and the relation of etiology to the severity and recurrence of it. Of the cases, 79 were men and 29 were women, and the mean age was 51.74 +/- 17.51. ⋯ Most of the lung cancer patients were male (P=0.002). The two leading causes of hemoptysis in our study are similar to many previous reports. The high rate of tuberculosis in our study is probably due to the high prevalence of tuberculosis in our country.