Chest
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
The spirometric efficacy of once-daily dosing with tiotropium in stable COPD: a 13-week multicenter trial. The US Tiotropium Study Group.
To compare the bronchodilator efficacy and safety of tiotropium and placebo. ⋯ These data demonstrate that tiotropium is a safe and effective once-daily anticholinergic bronchodilator and should prove useful as first-line maintenance therapy in COPD.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
The appropriate setting of noninvasive pressure support ventilation in stable COPD patients.
To evaluate the short-term physiologic effects of two settings of nasal pressure-support ventilation (NPSV) in stable COPD patients with chronic hypercapnia. ⋯ In COPD patients with chronic hypercapnia, NPSV is effective in improving arterial blood gases and in unloading inspiratory muscles independent of whether it is set on the basis of patient comfort and improvement in arterial blood gases or tailored to a patient's respiratory muscle effort and mechanics. However, setting of inspiratory assistance and PEEPe by the invasive evaluation of lung mechanics and respiratory muscle function may result in reduction in ineffective inspiratory efforts. These short-term results must be confirmed in the long-term clinical setting.
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To evaluate the effects of a respiratory muscle aid protocol on hospitalization rates for respiratory complications of neuromuscular disease. ⋯ Patients have significantly fewer hospitalizations per year and days per year when using the protocol as needed than without the protocol. The use of inspiratory and expiratory aids can significantly decrease hospitalization rates for respiratory complications of neuromuscular disease.
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Comparative Study
End-of-life care in the ICU: treatments provided when life support was or was not withdrawn.
To compare and contrast use of technology, pharmacology, and physician variability in end-of-life care of ICU patients dying with or without active life support. ⋯ Differences were evident in technologic and pharmacologic support and in physician prescribing habits in patients for whom life support was or was not withheld or withdrawn. Substantial variability was noted in physician documentation of physician-family interactions surrounding the withdrawal of life support.