Annals of the American Thoracic Society
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Review Meta Analysis
Accuracy of Nasal Nitric Oxide Measurement as a Diagnostic Test for Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare disorder causing chronic otosinopulmonary disease, generally diagnosed through evaluation of respiratory ciliary ultrastructure and/or genetic testing. Nasal nitric oxide (nNO) measurement is used as a PCD screening test because patients with PCD have low nNO levels, but its value as a diagnostic test remains unknown. ⋯ nNO is a sensitive and specific test for PCD in cooperative patients (generally >5 yr old) with high clinical suspicion for this disease. With a moderate level of evidence, this meta-analysis confirms that nNO testing using velum closure maneuvers has diagnostic accuracy similar to EM and/or genetic testing for PCD when cystic fibrosis is ruled out. Thus, low nNO values accompanied by an appropriate clinical phenotype could be used as a diagnostic PCD test, though EM and/or genetics will continue to provide confirmatory information.
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Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy is increasingly being used for the assessment of diffuse parenchymal lung diseases. Several studies have shown larger biopsy samples and higher yields compared with conventional transbronchial biopsies. However, the higher risk of bleeding and other complications has raised concerns for widespread use of this modality. ⋯ Although the diagnostic test accuracy measures of transbronchial lung cryobiopsy lag behind those of VATS, with an acceptable safety profile and potential cost savings, the former could be considered as an alternative in the evaluation of patients with diffuse parenchymal lung diseases.
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Acetazolamide is a carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitor sometimes used as a respiratory stimulant for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with the goal of improving oxygenation, reducing carbon dioxide retention, and aiding liberation from mechanical ventilation and/or attempting to correct a metabolic alkalosis. However, the net effect of CA inhibition is multifactorial and complex, because CA is inhibited in many tissues that may negatively affect the patient with lung disease. The full impact of acetazolamide and other CA inhibitors depends critically on dosing, age, and pulmonary, renal, hepatic, hematological, and respiratory muscle function and reserves. ⋯ There are very few studies specifically designed to address the population with severe COPD, as such patients were frequently excluded from trials. We therefore discuss the complexity of CA inhibition and its potential benefits and dangers and describe ways in which the pathophysiology of patients with severe COPD puts them at considerable risk for serious adverse consequences. We offer guidance on the careful and rational use of acetazolamide in patients with respiratory disorders.
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The surgical patient population is increasingly elderly and comorbid and poses challenges to perioperative physicians. Accurate preoperative risk stratification is important to direct perioperative care. Reduced aerobic fitness is associated with increased postoperative morbidity and mortality. ⋯ Prospective cohort studies are needed to improve the precision of risk estimates for different patient groups and to clarify the best combination of variables to predict outcome. Early data suggest that preoperative exercise training improves fitness, reduces the debilitating effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and may improve clinical outcomes. Further research is required to identify the most effective type of training and the minimum duration required for a positive effect.
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Risk stratification is a mainstay in the care of cardiac and pulmonary disorders, as the identification of adverse outcomes helps provide measures to improve survival and quality of life. The cardiopulmonary exercise test is a useful prognostic tool in the clinical evaluation of several pathological conditions, such as heart diseases, respiratory disorders, and pulmonary hypertension. If not contraindicated, a cardiopulmonary exercise test should always be performed and integrated with clinical, laboratory, and hemodynamic parameters to better stratify patient risk. ⋯ The prognostic role of the cardiopulmonary exercise test in heart failure is amplified when included in multiparametric risk stratification methodology, currently considered the best method to assess patient outcome. In respiratory disorders and in pulmonary hypertension, cardiopulmonary exercise test parameters, focusing on ventilatory performance during exercise, may help evaluate the risk of adverse events. Finally, the cardiopulmonary exercise test may help define the presence of coexisting cardiac and respiratory disorders, a combination that leads to increased rates of disability and mortality.