Australian and New Zealand journal of medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
The effects of nebulised isotonic saline and terbutaline on breathlessness in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
There is anecdotal evidence that nebulised saline relieves breathlessness at rest in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is unclear whether nebulised beta agonists are any more effective than nebulised saline in relieving breathlessness at rest in these individuals. ⋯ A saline aerosol has no effect on lung function but reduces breathlessness at rest in subjects with severe COPD. Nebulised saline may be considered as an adjunct to the use of nebulised bronchodilators for the treatment of breathlessness in patients with COPD.
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Plasmapheresis is used as a treatment modality in several neurological disorders. Adverse reactions relating to vascular access, replacement fluid and anticoagulant use have been reported. ⋯ Plasmapheresis is a safe procedure when performed for neurological indications by experienced personnel in a large pheresis unit. The most frequent adverse event is infection of the venous access site.