Ann Thorac Med
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Auscultation of the lung is an important part of the respiratory examination and is helpful in diagnosing various respiratory disorders. Auscultation assesses airflow through the trachea-bronchial tree. ⋯ It is necessary to understand the underlying pathophysiology of various lung sounds generation for better understanding of disease processes. Bedside teaching should be strengthened in order to avoid erosion in this age old procedure in the era of technological explosion.
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For patients that are expected to survive for longer, the risk of complications combined with the need for more vacuum drainage bottles have become barriers to the placement of indwelling pleural catheter (IPC), since these could increase costs. ⋯ The treatment with IPC was effective, safe, without need of any more procedures and led to improved dyspnea in more than 85% of the patients. The cost is lower in the outpatient group, although complications represent an increased cost in both groups.