Respiratory care
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After centuries of discoveries and technological growth, aerosol therapy remains a cornerstone of care in the management of both acute and chronic respiratory conditions. Aerosol therapy embraces the concept that medicine is both an art and a science, where an explicit understanding of the science of aerosol therapy, the nuances of the different delivery devices, and the ability to provide accurate and reliable education to patients become increasingly important. The purpose of this article is to review recent literature regarding aerosol delivery devices in a style that readers of Respiratory Care may use as a key topic resource.
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Editorial Multicenter Study
Managing Asthma on the College Campus: Findings of a Texas Pilot Study.
Students attending institutions of higher education have the option of utilizing their student health center (SHC) for asthma management. However, a review of the available literature revealed no previous research as to how SHCs on college campuses in Texas manage students with asthma. This led to the following research questions; how are SHCs in Texas managing asthma for college students, and what are the SHC directors' attitudes and perceptions of the impact of asthma on their college campuses? ⋯ The majority of directors were satisfied with asthma services provided to students; however, they felt more face-to-face asthma education was needed.
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Multicenter Study
Handgrip Strength Predicts Difficult Weaning But Not Extubation Failure in Mechanically Ventilated Subjects.
Muscle weakness, defined by the Medical Research Council scale, has been associated with delay in mechanical ventilation weaning. In this study, we evaluated handgrip strength as a prediction tool in weaning outcome. ⋯ Muscle weakness, assessed by handgrip strength, is associated with difficult or prolonged mechanical ventilation weaning and ICU stay, but not with extubation outcome.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
48-Hour Fluid Balance Does Not Predict a Successful Spontaneous Breathing Trial.
Both premature and delayed liberation from mechanical ventilation are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, and fluid balance could negatively influence extubation outcomes. We sought to determine the impact of fluid balance in the 48 h before a spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) on weaning outcomes in a mixed ICU population. ⋯ Fluid balance should not delay SBT indication because it does not predict greater probability of SBT failure in the medical-surgical critically ill population. Notwithstanding, avoiding positive fluid balance in patients with COPD might improve weaning outcomes. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration NCT02022839.).