The clinical respiratory journal
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Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially life-threatening cardiovascular emergency with a high mortality rate. Rapid diagnosis and treatment are important in optimising clinical outcomes in patients with PE, and anticoagulants are the mainstay of treatment. Traditionally, anticoagulant therapy involves parenteral anticoagulants, overlapping with and followed by oral vitamin K antagonists. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), including the factor Xa inhibitors rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban, and the direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran etexilate, have been developed to address limitations associated with traditional anticoagulant therapy. Apixaban, dabigatran and rivaroxaban have recently been approved for the treatment of acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and PE and prevention of recurrent DVT or PE. Edoxaban is approved in the United States but not currently in the European Union for the treatment of DVT and PE; approval of edoxaban in Europe is anticipated in the near future. ⋯ DOACs offer an alternative and potentially simplified option for anticoagulation therapy in patients with PE compared with traditional anticoagulants and are likely to assist physicians in optimising management of patients with PE and improve clinical outcomes.
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Comparative Study
The role of transbronchial cryobiopsy and surgical lung biopsy in the diagnostic algorithm of interstitial lung disease.
It is not yet known if transbronchial cryobiopsy (TCB) is a reliable and safe diagnostic tool in the investigation of interstitial lung disease (ILD). To date, there have been no studies directly comparing the value of TCB with that of surgical lung biopsy (SLB). The study was initiated to determine whether the samples taken by TCB lead to a reliable diagnosis and whether SLB can be avoided in a relevant percentage of cases. ⋯ This is the first study to correlate histological results and complications following TCB and SLB in ILD subjects, some of whom underwent both procedures. TCB is a suitable diagnostic tool in ILD, potentially completely dispensing with the need for an SLB in some cases. In all cases, an interdisciplinary case evaluation is necessary as a final step.
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Review Meta Analysis
An evaluation of neuromuscular electrical stimulation in critical care using the ICF framework: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
To review, in conformance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, the totality of evidence for the use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in the critical care setting, when compared with usual care, under all domains of the World Health Organisation, International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework. ⋯ NMES, as an adjunct to current rehabilitation practices in critically ill patients, may maintain muscle strength. However, high-quality studies with longer follow-up periods and standardised outcome measures across all domains of the ICF framework are required.
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Polysomnography (PSG), which involves simultaneous monitoring of various physiological monitors, is the current comprehensive tool for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We aimed at validating vibrating signals of snoring as a single physiological parameter for screening and evaluating severity of OSA. ⋯ SBI may serve as a portable tool for screening patients and assessing OSA severity in a non-hospital setting.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Comparison of pressure and volume-controlled ventilation in laparoscopic cholecystectomy operations.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has many advantages such as shorter hospital stay of patients, minimal postoperative pain, rapid recovery after the operation; however, systemic disadvantages because intra-abdominal pressure, position and general anaesthesia may also appear. In this study, pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) and volume-controlled ventilation (VCV) modes during laparoscopic cholecystectomy operations were compared in terms of their effects on haemodynamic, respiratory and blood gas parameters. ⋯ In this study, with volume-controlled ventilation anaesthesia in laparoscopic cholecystectomy, higher tidal volume and lower alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient were achieved after pneumoperitoneum. These findings indicated that VCV mode can provide a better alveolar ventilation than PCV mode in laparoscopic cholecystectomy operations.