Respirology : official journal of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Population based standards for pulmonary function in non-smoking adults in Singapore.
Ethnic differences in lung function are well recognized, hence the use of normative data should therefore be based on reference equations that are derived specifically for different ethnic groups. We have collected data (n = 406) for population-based reference values of lung function from randomly selected samples of healthy non-smoking adults of both gender (aged 20-79 years) for each of the three major ethnic groups (Chinese, Malay and Indians) in Singapore. ⋯ Ethnic differences were demonstrated, with Chinese having the largest lung volumes and flow rates, and Indians the smallest. These prediction equations provide improved and additional (TLC, RV, RV/TLC, FRC) population-based reference values for assessment of pulmonary health and disease in Singapore.
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Several methods have been used to predict successful weaning and extubation among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. The objective of this study is to determine whether carbon dioxide recruitment threshold (PCO2RT) can be used as adjunct to conventional weaning parameters to predict early weaning and successful extubation. Twelve COPD patients who were ready to be extubated based on conventional weaning parameters were divided into group A (n = 7) and group B (n = 5). ⋯ After weaning for 30 min on a T-tube, another arterial blood gas is determined and this is called the PCO2SB or the CO2 level after 30 min on spontaneous breathing. If the PCO2SB-PCO2RT difference is high with a sensitivity of 85.71% and specificity of 100% vs sensitivity of 57.14% and specificity of 60% using the conventional weaning parameters. Thus an increase in PCO2SB at 30 min T-tube is indicative of impending respiratory pump failure and that other causes of failure to wean must be investigated.