Journal of thoracic disease
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains a common cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Patients with COPD and respiratory failure, whether acute or chronic have a poorer prognosis than patients without respiratory failure. Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) has been shown to be a useful tool in both the acute hospital and chronic home care setting. ⋯ However, NIV has been increasingly used in other clinical situations such as for weaning from invasive ventilation and to palliate symptoms in patients not suitable for invasive ventilation. The equivocal evidence for the use of NIV in chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure complicating COPD has recently been challenged with data now supporting a role for therapy in selected subgroups of patients. Finally the review will discuss the emerging role of high flow humidified therapy to support or replace NIV in certain clinical situation.
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Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the leading cause of high mortality in intensive care units (ICUs) worldwide. An effective marker for prognosis in ARDS is particularly important given the absence of effective treatment strategies aside from small tidal volume ventilation. Previous studies identified an association between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and prognosis in critical patients. In this study, we explored the prognostic and predictive value of the NLR in ARDS patients. ⋯ The NLR is potentially a predictive prognostic biomarker in ARDS patients.
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As screening for lung cancer rises, an increase in the diagnosis of early stage lung cancers is expected. Lobectomy remains the standard treatment, but there are alternatives, consideration of which requires an estimation of the risk of surgery. Sarcopenia, irrespective of body mass index, confers a worse prognosis in many groups of patients including those undergoing surgery. Here we examine the association of muscle mass with outcomes for patients undergoing lobectomy. ⋯ The height adjusted-erector spinae muscle cross sectional area was significantly associated with 30-day mortality and length of stay in the hospital. Measurement of muscle mass on preoperative computed tomography imaging may have a role to help predict risk of morbidity and mortality prior to lobectomy.
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Mitral valve (MV) coaptation is very important in MV repair patients. But accurate quantitation of the degree of MV coaptation remains challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to assess MV coaptation before and after MV repair. ⋯ The coaptation variables increased significantly in patients undergoing MV repair. The CLI and CAI significantly correlated with MR severity. The CL and CLI determined with 2D TEE are more feasible than the CA and CAI determined with 3D TEE. Both 2D and 3D variables may complement each other for aiding MV repair. 2D CLI is an alternative to 3D CAI due to its simplicity.
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This study aims to verify the correlation of bispectral index (BIS) and Richmond agitation sedation scale (RASS) for evaluating these and explore possibility of replacing RASS with BIS. ⋯ A correlation was observed between BIS and RASS for evaluating depth of sedation in ICU patients undergoing FFB (P<0.05). Study results indicated that BIS monitoring is a meaningful tool, which can be applied as an adjunctive and alternative method to assess sedation, especially for high-risk patients who are prone to be under- or over-sedation.