Respiratory care
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Under the hypothesis that elderly people in the community may have deficient oropharyngeal dysfunction, the purpose of this case-control study was to compare oral and physical characteristics in elderly people with and without a history of pneumonia and to identify factors distinguishing them. ⋯ In community-dwelling elderly people, association of pneumonia with skilled tongue control (AMR) rather than with swallowing (RSST) prompts a reexamination of what constitutes being at risk for pneumonia.
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Unplanned extubations can lead to iatrogenic injury and have the potential to contribute to serious safety events. We adopted lean methodology to reduce the unplanned extubation rate in a Level 3b NICU. We hypothesized that the use of a rapid-cycle PDSA (plan, do, study, act) initiative would reduce the unplanned extubation rate. ⋯ Staff underestimated the prevalence of unplanned extubations but recognized the need for improvement. Rapid cycle PDSA significantly reduced the unplanned extubation rate. The decrease in intubated days may have been a by-product of the post-improvement phase improvements, which encouraged practice changes.
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Exercise testing is part of the regular assessment of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). We aimed to evaluate (1) the convergent validity of the 1-min sit-to-stand (STS) test in CF by investigating its relationships with peak oxygen uptake (peak V̇O2 ), quadriceps strength, and quality of life and (2) to compare these associations with those of the 6-min walk test (6MWT). ⋯ The STS test cannot be used as a replacement for CPET to accurately assess peak exercise capacity in CF. The STS test may have utility in detecting patients with CF who may exhibit a high level of oxygen desaturation during heavy exercise. Further studies should identify the factors contributing to STS performance to confirm the potential interest of STS repetitions × body weight outcome as a useful submaximal exercise parameter in CF.
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Artificial airway resistance as provided by small-lumen tracheal tubes or catheters increases the risk of intrinsic PEEP (PEEPi). We hypothesized that by active expiration assistance, larger minute volumes could be generated without causing PEEPi compared with conventional mechanical ventilation when using small-lumen tracheal tubes or a cricothyrotomy catheter. ⋯ For mechanical ventilation via small-lumen tubes or thin catheters, active compensation of airway resistance might be a necessary means to generate adequate minute ventilation without causing PEEPi. Active expiration assistance can generate reasonable respiratory minute volumes via small-lumen tubes or thin catheters.
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Pneumothorax is one of the most important complications after bronchoscopy. This study was conducted to determine the risk factors for post-bronchoscopy pneumothorax. ⋯ Pneumothorax occurred significantly more frequently when bronchoscopy was performed for subinterlobular pleural lesions. Close attention and care should be taken during bronchoscopy, especially when target lesions are abutting the interlobular pleura.