Respiratory care
-
Case Reports
Massive Hemoptysis Due to Pulmonary Vein Stenosis Following Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation.
Pulmonary vein stenosis, which is one of the rare complications of radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation, has various symptoms. Here, we report a rare case of massive hemoptysis due to pulmonary vein stenosis following radiofrequency catheter ablation, which was successfully managed with pneumonectomy.
-
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is indispensable for diagnosing brain and spinal cord abnormalities. Magnetic components cannot be used during MRI procedures; therefore, patient support equipment must use MRI-compatible materials. However, little is known of the performance of MRI-compatible ventilators. ⋯ None of the MRI-compatible ventilators maintained V(T), F(IO2), and PEEP at set levels. Vital signs of patients with unstable respiratory mechanics should be monitored during transport and MRI.
-
Sialorrhea or drooling represents quite a common problem in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In this review, we describe the possible treatments for this issue. ⋯ In this review, we also explore the possible surgical options for treatment of sialorrhea. Although no specific studies have been conducted on patients with ALS, surgical therapies might represent a valid option for treatment of sialorrhea since there is no tachyphylaxis or need for repeated therapeutic sessions.
-
Various portable monitors for identifying obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have been investigated and reported to enable accurate recording of OSA severity. However, more information is needed from different populations. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of a portable 2-channel sleep apnea device (SleepView) for screening OSA in the Chinese population. ⋯ The SleepView device exhibited acceptable diagnostic accuracy for OSA in the Chinese population, especially in the severe OSA group. A practical predictive model comprising waist circumference, AHI, and oxygen desaturation index obtained with the SleepView was highly effective for screening even mild OSA. This simple and practical device may serve as a useful tool to screen for OSA. Further studies are required to validate the diagnostic efficiency of the SleepView in the home environment and in different populations.
-
Observational Study
Nasal Mucociliary Clearance in Subjects With COPD After Smoking Cessation.
Exposure to cigarette smoke causes significant impairment in mucociliary clearance (MCC), which predisposes patients to secretion retention and recurrent airway infections that play a role in exacerbations of COPD. To determine whether smoking cessation may influence MCC and frequency of exacerbations, the following groups were evaluated: ex-smokers with COPD, smokers with COPD, current smokers with normal lung function, and nonsmokers with normal lung function. ⋯ One year after smoking cessation, subjects with COPD had improved mucociliary clearance.