Thorax
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Survival to hospital discharge of patients suffering exacerbations of COPD is better than other medical causes for ICU admission. Although non-invasive ventilation (NIV) may prevent progression to tracheal intubation, its failure in most cases should lead to a period of controlled mechanical ventilation aiming for early extubation, possibly supported by NIV and tracheostomy if this fails. ⋯ The risk of nosocomial infection increases with the length of time the patient remains in the ICU and commonly further prolongs the period of ventilator dependency. Weaning centres with an emphasis on general rehabilitation may offer the best support for such individuals.
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Technical developments in spiral CT scanning mean that considerably smaller lung cancers can now be identified than with previous methods of detection. Only time will tell whether this enhanced capability will result in a reduction in the number of deaths from lung cancer. ⋯ Screening implies a careful refinement of a range of clinical activities that must be routinely delivered in a carefully coordinated fashion to allow for the possibility of improved outcome. Critical analyses of the nuances of this process are essential if the field is to move forward.
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A study was undertaken to determine the oropharyngeal carrier state of potentially pathogenic microorganisms (PPM) and the magnitude of colonisation and infection rates of the lower airways with these PPM in children requiring long term ventilation first transtracheally and afterwards via a tracheotomy. ⋯ While P aeruginosa present in the admission flora caused primary endogenous colonisation/infection during mechanical ventilation on the PICU, S aureus not carried in the throat was responsible for the exogenous colonisation/infection once the patients had a tracheotomy. This is in sharp contrast to adult studies where exogenous infections are invariably caused by AGNB. This discrepancy may be explained by chronic underlying conditions such as diabetes, alcoholism, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which promote AGNB, whereas the children were recovering following tracheotomy.