Chest
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To evaluate excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) at work and effects on reported work performance among men in the general population and male patients suffering from snoring and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). ⋯ Snoring and sleep apnea were highly associated with excessive EDS at work and subjective work performance problems. The results provide additional evidence that snoring is not merely a nuisance.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A comparison of ipratropium and albuterol vs albuterol alone for the treatment of acute asthma.
To evaluate the role of inhaled ipratropium bromide in acute asthma, a double-blind study of 384 emergency department patients compared the effect of the combination of ipratropium and albuterol with that of albuterol alone. Patients were randomized to receive nebulizer treatments with either 2.5 mg of albuterol or 2.5 mg of albuterol mixed with 0.5 mg of ipratropium bromide at entry and at 45 min. Spirometry, vital signs, and oxygen saturation were measured before and at 45 and 90 min following the nebulizer treatments. ⋯ There were no significant adverse events experienced by patients in either group. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the number of patients requiring additional therapy in the emergency department or hospitalization. We conclude that in this population of inner city asthmatics, we were unable to demonstrate significant additive benefit of nebulized ipratropium bromide to nebulized albuterol.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Cardiovascular safety of high doses of inhaled fenoterol and albuterol in acute severe asthma.
It has been suggested that overuse of fenoterol metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) may increase the risk of death from asthma due to cardiac arrhythmias. Our primary objective was to compare the cardiovascular safety of fenoterol and albuterol MDIs when administered in maximal bronchodilating or maximal tolerated doses to an absolute maximum of 16 puffs, for the emergency department (ED) treatment of acute severe asthma. ⋯ In adequately oxygenated patients, using dose titration of fenoterol, in a formulation of 200 micrograms per puff by MDI valved holding chamber and mask, to a total dose of 3,200 micrograms and salbutamol (100 micrograms per puff) to a total dose of 1,600 micrograms over 90 min, showed cardiovascular safety in acute severe asthma. This was evidenced by absence of cardiovascular mortality or clinically significant arrhythmias in either group. The 100% greater dose of fenoterol improved FEV1 significantly more than salbutamol and was associated with a relatively small but significantly greater prolongation of the Q-Tc interval and decrease in serum potassium level. This study does not exclude the possibility that adverse cardiac events could occur with severe hypoxemia.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effect of different inspiratory maneuvers on FEV1 in patients with cystic fibrosis.
The time course of inspiration has been shown to have a significant influence on the subsequent maximal expiratory flows and timed forced expiratory volumes in healthy adults and those with COPD. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of two different inspiratory maneuvers on the spirogram in 15 patients with cystic fibrosis, aged 13 to 35 years, who had mild to moderate airway obstruction. Patients performed a forced expiratory maneuver either after a rapid inspiration without an end-inspiratory pause or after a slow inspiration with a 4-s end-inspiratory pause. ⋯ This discrepancy probably reflects differences in effective elastic recoil pressure between the two maneuvers. Although the nature of this phenomenon is not fully understood, our results show that for spirometry in patients with cystic fibrosis, the preceding inspiratory maneuver influences the results. An important corollary is that this inspiratory maneuver should be standardized.
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In asthmatic patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF), placing an endotracheal tube is associated with a high rate of complications and results in increased airway resistance. In acute asthma, mask-continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) decreases airway resistance and the work of breathing (WOB), but does not improve gas exchange. In COPD with ARF, adding intermittent positive pressure ventilation to mask-CPAP results in an additional improvement in WOB and is highly effective in correcting gas exchange abnormalities. In our medical ICU, noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) is used as first-line interventional therapy in eligible patients with hypercapnic ARF. We report our experience with NPPV in 17 episodes of asthma and ARF over a 3-year period. ⋯ In asthmatic patients with ARF, NPPV via a face mask appears highly effective in correcting gas exchange abnormalities using a low inspiratory pressure (< 25 cm H2O). A randomized study is in progress to assess fully the role of NPPV in status asthmaticus.