Respiratory care
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Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common long-term complication in premature newborns requiring ventilatory support and is the most common cause of chronic diffuse lung disease in this population. We present the clinical course of a premature newborn with a complicated neonatal respiratory course that was initially thought to be related to BPD, but it did not respond to the typical therapies for this condition. Due to the findings of periventricular nodular heterotopia, the diagnosis of a filamin A gene mutation was eventually made, which explained the respiratory pathology of this patient. When time of onset and clinical course do not correlate with typical BPD, one should consider alternative diagnoses in premature infants, including neonatal diffuse lung disease.
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This article reports an unusual case of tracheal mucormycosis following H1N1 pneumonia and reviews previously reported cases. A 40-y-old female with a 5-y history of diabetes mellitus, adequately controlled by oral hypoglycemic agents, developed tracheal mucormycosis after successful treatment for H1N1 pneumonia. ⋯ A review of the literature revealed only 5 previously reported cases of tracheal mucormycosis. A high degree of suspicion, early endoscopy and biopsy, histopathological evidence of the infection, and early institution of therapy are the keys to successful outcome.
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Editorial Comment
Tracheal cuff management as part of a lung-protective strategy.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Identifying Cancer Patients With Acute Respiratory Failure at High Risk for Intubation and Mechanical Ventilation.
We sought to identify risk factors for mechanical ventilation in patients with malignancies and acute respiratory failure (ARF). ⋯ In cancer patients with ARF, hypoxemia, extent of pulmonary infiltration on chest x-ray, or hemodynamic dysfunction are risk factors for invasive mechanical ventilation. Mortality was not significantly different between NIV failure and first-line intubation.
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Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a regulatory peptide with many biological actions, but little is known about its role in patients with COPD exacerbation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of plasma ADM levels on hospital admission in patients with COPD exacerbation. ⋯ Plasma ADM is a valuable biomarker to confirm COPD exacerbation; furthermore, plasma ADM independently predicts the need of ICU care, although it is not associated with long-term mortality in patients with COPD exacerbation.