Rev Port Pneumol
-
Despite advances in non-invasive ventilation techniques, tracheostomy is still indicated in children with serious airway obstruction or with the need for long-term ventilation. Alternatives should be studied before deciding to tracheostomise as complications exist, despite the simple procedure. The aims of this study were the identification of tracheostomised children followed in a tertiary care paediatric department, the characterisation of primary disease, the indications leading to tracheostomy and any complications. We present a case review of tracheostomised children followed in our department. Sixteen tracheostomised children were followed, median age of 4.5 months, neuromuscular disease - 5, cerebral palsy - 3 and pulmonary or airway disease - 7. Indications were long-term invasive ventilation - 12, subglottic or tracheal stenosis - 3 and laryngomalacia - 1. The most frequent complications found were persistent bacterial colonisation, accidental decannulation and obstruction. There was a tracheostomy- related death in 1 child. ⋯ 9 children maintained tracheostomy, 5 were successfully decannulated and 2 children died while on tracheostomy. Tracheostomised children usually have complex disease that requires a multidisciplinary team and should be followed-up at a specialised reference centre.
-
Some patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) have disease accelerated deterioration without identifiable cause referred as "acute exacerbation" or "accelerated stage". It is characterized by severe worsening of dyspnea, hypoxemia and new or progressive opacities on imaging studies. ⋯ The authors describe the clinical, functional and radiological features, treatment and evolution of five patients with IPF acute exacerbation. A discussion will be carry out concerning the IPF acute exacerbation usual features comparing with the alterations noticed in those patients.
-
Case Reports
[Bronchial fracture: bronchoscopy management with bronchial stent and balloon bronchoplasty].
Bronchial fracture is a rare, life -threatening injury usually associated with blunt chest trauma. It represents a great task in diagnosis, as its manifestations are various and nonspecific. Bronchoscopy has a primordial role to diagnose and, in selective cases, to treat bronchial fractures. ⋯ The bronchoscopy revealed a fracture of the left main bronchus. Conservative treatment was per- formed with endobronchial stenting and balloon dilatation. In conclusion, a review of the literature on bronchial fracture and the role of bronchoscopy is presented.
-
Pneumomediastinum is defined as the presence of free air in the mediastinum, and the spontaneous occurs in the absence of diseases or precipitating factors. It is rare in adults, and it is more frequent in newborns. However, it occurs more in young adults, with an 8:1 relationship between men and women. ⋯ He underwent complementary examinations and the diagnosis was spontaneous pneumo- mediastinum. This patient was submitted to a conservative treatment with excellent clinical evolution. At the moment, he is asymptomatic and under routine clinical care.
-
Megaoesophagus resulting from achalasia is a rare but serious cause of airway obstruction. The exact aetiology remains unclear. Achalasia normally presents as weight loss, dysphasia and regurgitation but frequently considerable oesophageal distension can occur without complain and very rarely cause of achalasia presents with stridor or respiratory distress. ⋯ She had complained of cough, dispneia and had a pulmonary function studies that showed a severe airway obstruction. After surgery the symptoms disappeared and she had a marked improvement in the flow-volume curve. Oesophagus achalasia should be considered as one of the differential diagnoses of airway obstruction.