Respiratory care
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High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) reduces the need for intubation in adult subject with acute respiratory failure. Changes in hypobaric hypoxemia have not been studied for subject with an HFNC in ICUs at altitudes > 2,600 m above sea level. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of HFNC treatment in subjects with COVID-19 at high altitudes. We hypothesized that progressive hypoxemia and the increase in breathing frequency associated with COVID-19 in high altitudes affect the success of HFNC therapy and may also influence the performance of the traditionally used predictors of success and failure. ⋯ High-altitude subjects treated with HFNC for COVID-19 showed a high risk of respiratory failure and progressive hypoxemia when FIO2 requirements were > 0.8 after 24 h of treatment. In these subjects, personalized management should include continuous monitoring of individual clinical conditions (such as oxygenation indices, with cutoffs adapted to those corresponding to high-altitude cities).
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A COPD exacerbation is characterized by an increase in symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, and sputum production that worsens over a period of 2 weeks. Exacerbations are common. Respiratory therapists and physicians in an acute care setting often treat these patients. ⋯ Additional high-level evidence is needed before widespread use of extracorporeal CO2 removal. Care coordination can improve the effectiveness of care for patients with COPD exacerbation. Evidence-based practices improve outcomes in patients with COPD exacerbation.
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Observational Study
Changes in Peripheral Oxygen Saturation in Hospitalized Subjects During Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy: High-Flow Nasal Cannula versus Standard Oxygen Therapy.
Hypoxemia is a relatively common complication in stable patients during fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB). To prevent this complication, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) has been described as an alternative to standard oxygen therapy. However, the advantages of HFNC over standard oxygen therapy in acute care patients receiving supplemental oxygen before FOB performed with an oral approach are unknown. ⋯ In acute subjects who required oxygen support before FOB, the use of HFNC during FOB with an oral approach was associated with a smaller decrease in SpO2 and lower Δ SpO2 compared with standard oxygen therapy.
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Acute respiratory failure (ARF) remains the most frequent reason for ICU admission in patients who are immunocompromised. This study reports etiologies and outcomes of ARF in subjects with solid tumors. ⋯ Infectious diseases remained the most frequent cause of ARF in subjects with solid tumors admitted to the ICU. Hospital mortality was related to severity at ICU admission, previous comorbidities, and ARF etiologies related to non-malignant causes or pulmonary embolism. Lung tumor was also independently associated with higher mortality.
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There have been an estimated 100 million people diagnosed with COVID-19 in the United States, with a majority of patients reporting persistent symptoms expressed as long COVID. The 2 most frequently reported long COVID symptoms are shortness of breath and fatigue. Exercise training during pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a successful strategy for improving the lives of people with persistent respiratory symptoms caused by a variety of lung diseases. ⋯ Articles were accessed through electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, CINAHL Plus with full text (EBSCO), and LitCovid. Findings for this Year in Review revealed that exercise interventions and PR show promise for improving functional exercise capacity, dyspnea, and fatigue in people with long COVID. This review supports the need for more rigorous scientific studies on the benefits of structured PR in people with long COVID who have respiratory-related symptoms.