Respiration; international review of thoracic diseases
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of bronchodilators on regional lung sound distribution in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Bronchodilators have been reported to influence regional lung ventilation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which may change regional lung sound distribution. Vibration response imaging (VRI) is a lung imaging system for the assessment of breath sounds. ⋯ The additional use of an SABA by COPD patients improved their pulmonary function, which was accompanied by changes in regional lung air flow. The distribution of emphysematous lesions and the bronchial reactivity to SABA appeared to affect the redistribution of the lung sounds following bronchodilator administration.
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Lung ultrasound (LUS) is an accurate tool for the diagnosis and follow-up of pneumonia in adults as well as in children. LUS is at least as accurate as chest radiography in diagnosing pneumonia. The most important parenchymal criterion is the positive air bronchogram within an echopoor area. ⋯ For further differential diagnosis, an integrated consideration of history, clinical examination, LUS and echocardiography should be performed. LUS is an excellent tool for IS screening. Repeated LUS control examinations may reflect the dynamics of IS under therapy and so LUS may serve as a therapy guide. .
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Positive expiratory pressure via mask does not improve ventilation inhomogeneity more than huffing and coughing in individuals with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic sputum expectoration.
Positive expiratory pressure (PEP) has been used to promote airway clearance in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for many years; however, its mechanism of action and benefits are unclear. Previous authors have suggested that PEP improves collateral ventilation via changes in lung volumes. ⋯ Any therapeutic benefits of PEP in individuals with COPD and chronic sputum expectoration are unlikely to be mediated by improvements in ventilation or lung volumes.
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Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) affects individuals with non-systemic or mildly systemic immunodepression or altered pulmonary integrity due to underlying disease. It has been reported with a variety of clinical and radiological patterns. The condition should be distinguished from simple aspergilloma and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis as well as invasive aspergillosis in severely immunocompromised patients. ⋯ Life-threatening haemoptysis may be prevented by bronchial arteriography with embolisation. However, currently there are no documented treatment recommendations for CPA. This review provides an up-to-date practical overview of this condition, including a comprehensive update on diagnosis and management.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Benefits of an oxygen reservoir cannula versus a conventional nasal cannula during exercise in hypoxemic COPD patients: a crossover trial.
The Oxymizer® is a special nasal cannula that provides a higher luminal diameter in combination with an incorporated oxygen (O2) reservoir. It is assumed that a higher O2 concentration can be delivered breath by breath in order to increase oxygenation. ⋯ We show that O2 delivery via the Oxymizer is superior to a CNC with regard to endurance capacity and oxygenation during exercise in patients with severe COPD. It seems that patients with a higher demand for O2 (≥ 4 liters/min), in particular, may benefit more from the use of the Oxymizer.