Respiratory medicine
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Respiratory medicine · Aug 2020
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients have preserved CT-measured central airway luminal area.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a condition of neonatal chronic lung disease due to disruption or dysregulation of pulmonary development. However, the pathophysiology of BPD in the larger conducting airways is not yet fully understood. The objective of our study was to determine if the area of the central airways are altered in patients with a history of BPD. ⋯ Airway luminal area was not different between BPD patients and matched controls for any of the measured airways (p > 0.05). Total lung volume detected in the CT scans was not different between BPD patients and matched controls (median [range]; 2775 [522-6215] vs 2969 [851-5612] cm3, p > 0.05). Our results suggest the luminal areas of the large conducting airways in patients with BPD are not different from matched controls.
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Respiratory medicine · Aug 2020
Observational StudyNew opacities in lung allograft after transbronchial cryobiopsy.
The occurrence of radiological opacities post-transbronchial cryobiopsy may pose serious difficulties in differential diagnosis and management of lung allografts. This prospective study evaluated the frequency, characteristics, and evolution of new lung opacities after performing transbronchial cryobiopsy. ⋯ New pulmonary opacities >10 mm occur frequently after transbronchial cryobiopsy; a few may persist beyond 6 months. CT studies are recommended before implementing transbronchial cryobiopsy, whenever possible.
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Asthmatic smokers have reduced quality of life and need frequent specialist visits/hospitalization. Smoking habit represents for asthmatics a higher risk for comorbidities and lung function impairment. The impact of cigarette smoking on asthmatics should be addressed to evaluate the related risk factors. ⋯ Heavy smokers had more severe obstructive impairments than light and never smokers with similar ICS dose, showing a steroid insensitivity, but displayed less allergy with low FeNO and blood eosinophil count, thus being a definite phenotype.
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Extubation of patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a high risk procedure for both patients and staff. Shortages in personal protective equipment (PPE) and the high volume of contact staff have with COVID-19 patients has generated an interest in ways to reduce exposure that might be feasible especially during pandemic times and in resource limited healthcare settings. ⋯ We present a review of the current literature along with recommendations concerning safe extubation during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, a focused summary on the use of portable barrier hood devices, during the recent surge of COVID-19 is highlighted.
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Respiratory medicine · Jul 2020
Diagnostic performance between CT and initial real-time RT-PCR for clinically suspected 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients outside Wuhan, China.
Chest CT is thought to be sensitive but less specific in diagnosing the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The diagnostic value of CT is unclear. We aimed to compare the performance of CT and initial RT-PCR for clinically suspected COVID-19 patients outside the epicentre-Wuhan, China. ⋯ Initial RT-PCR and chest CT had comparable diagnostic performance in identification of suspected COVID-19 patients outside the epidemic center. To compensate potential risk of false-negative PCR, chest CT should be applied for clinically suspected patients with negative initial RT-PCR.