International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2007
ReviewReview of ventilatory techniques to optimize mechanical ventilation in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global healthcare problem. Studies vary widely in the reported frequency of mechanical ventilation in acute exacerbations of COPD. Invasive intubation and mechanical ventilation may be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. ⋯ The basic pathophysiology in COPD exacerbation is the critical expiratory airflow limitation with consequent dynamic hyperinflation. These changes lead to further derangement in ventilatory mechanics, muscle function and gas exchange which may result in respiratory failure. This review discusses the altered respiratory mechanics in COPD, ways to detect these changes in a ventilated patient and formulating ventilatory techniques to optimize management of respiratory failure due to exacerbation of COPD.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2007
Tobacco consumption in relation to causes of death in an urban population of north India.
Noncommunicable diseases have become a public heath problem in India concomitant with economic development, leading to increases in tobacco consumption, obesity, and changes in diet and lifestyle. Although observation suggests that tobacco consumption is a major risk factor for deaths due to circulatory, pulmonary, and malignant diseases, such studies are not available from most populations in developing countries. ⋯ This study shows that tobacco consumption appears to be a major contributor to deaths due to circulatory diseases and malignant diseases in India. Social class status had little impact on tobacco consumption in male decedents. Rapid changes in diet and lifestyle, increases in tobacco consumption, and possibly aging of the population, appear to be strongly associated with mortality due to cardiovascular diseases and cancer in this middle-income country.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2007
A pilot study of inspiratory capacity and resting dyspnea correlations in exacerbations of COPD and asthma.
Measurement of inspiratory capacity (IC) as a marker of dynamic lung hyperinflation has been shown to correlate with dyspnea and exercise performance in stable COPD, and is therefore of potential utility in the management of this condition. We have examined whether similar relationships exist during acute exacerbations of COPD and asthma in order to determine whether there is a role for IC monitoring in acute management of these conditions. Eight patients with COPD and ten with asthma requiring hospital admission for acute exacerbations were studied with spirometry (including IC) at admission and at discharge and had concurrent self-perceived resting dyspnea ratings recorded. ⋯ No significant correlations were found between changes in dyspnea and changes in IC, in terms of acute responses to bronchodilator and in response to treatment over the hospital admission. These data suggest that dynamic hyperinflation during acute exacerbations of COPD and asthma is not as sensitive an indicator of resting dyspnea as in stable disease. A role for IC monitoring in the management of acute exacerbations of these diseases has not been identified.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2007
Comparative StudyA new staging strategy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The best method for expressing lung function impairment is undecided. We tested in a population of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) whether forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) or FEV1 divided by height squared (FEV1/ht2) was better than FEV1 percent predicted (FEV1PP) for predicting survival. ⋯ We conclude that GOLD criteria using FEV1PP do not optimally stage COPD with regard to survival. An alternative strategy using FEV1/ht2 improves the staging of this disease. Studies which stratify COPD patients to determine the effect of interventions such as drug trials, rehabilitation, or management guidelines should consider alternatives to the GOLD classification.