Respirology : official journal of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology
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Little is known about the value of procalcitonin in predicting mortality in patients with an exacerbation of COPD. This study evaluated the clinical and biological predictors of intensive care unit (ICU) mortality in patients with a severe acute exacerbation of COPD. ⋯ In patients with severe acute exacerbation of COPD requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation, logistic organ dysfunction score, rapidly fatal underlying disease and procalcitonin are independently associated with increased risk for ICU mortality. Non-invasive mechanical ventilation use before intubation was independently associated with reduced risk for ICU mortality.
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Case Reports
Bronchial anthracostenosis with mediastinal fibrosis associated with long-term wood-smoke exposure.
Bronchial anthracostenosis describes a disease entity consisting of bronchial destruction, deformity and stenosis related to dark pigmentation on bronchoscopy in patients with a history of coal workers' pneumoconiosis or chronic exposure to biomass smoke. The combined occurrence of bronchial anthracostenosis and mediastinal fibrosis in association with wood-smoke exposure has not been previously reported. ⋯ Clinical and radiological improvements were achieved after treatment with corticosteroid and tamoxifen. Awareness of this unusual entity will help to avoid misdiagnosis of malignancy or unnecessary thoracotomy.