Chest
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Comparative Study
Prevalence and outcomes of caregiving after prolonged (> or =48 hours) mechanical ventilation in the ICU.
(1) To estimate caregiver support required by patients 2 months after prolonged (at least 48 h) mechanical ventilation (MV) in an ICU; (2) to describe caregiver burden, caregiver depressive symptomatology, and caregiver limitations in activities; and (3) to investigate factors related to depressive symptoms at 2 months in caregivers. ⋯ Two months after being placed on MV for at least 48 h, a high proportion of patients need caregiver support. Approximately 34% of caregivers are at risk of clinical depression. Many caregivers report lifestyle changes and burden when providing care for the patients.
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Comparative Study
A new oxygenation index for reflecting intrapulmonary shunting in patients undergoing open-heart surgery.
To assess the reliability of new and traditional oxygenation measurements in reflecting intrapulmonary shunt. ⋯ In this group of patients, PaO(2)/(FIO(2) x Paw) might be more reliable than other oxygenation measurements in reflecting intrapulmonary shunt.
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Comparative Study
Role of flexible bronchoscopy in immunocompromised patients with lung infiltrates.
To study the diagnostic role of flexible bronchoscopy (FB) in immunocompromised patients with pulmonary infiltrates. ⋯ FB has a high diagnostic yield in immunocompromised patients with pulmonary infiltrates. Based on our results, we recommend performing TBB in these patients, whenever possible.
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Comparative Study
Chest wall kinematics and breathlessness during pursed-lip breathing in patients with COPD.
Pursed-lip breathing (PLB) is a strategy often spontaneously employed by patients with COPD during distress situations. Whether and to what extent PLB affects operational lung volume is not known. Also, conflicting reports deal with PLB capability of decreasing breathlessness. ⋯ Changes in VCWee related to baseline airway obstruction but not to hyperinflation (FRC). By lengthening of TE and TTOT, PLB decreases VCWee and reduces breathlessness.
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Comparative Study
Gender differences in health-related quality of life in patients complaining of chronic cough.
To confirm that more women than men who complain of chronic cough seek medical attention, to determine whether the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of these women is more adversely affected than men, and to determine whether there are gender differences in the ways that chronic cough adversely affects HRQOL. ⋯ Women with chronic cough were probably more inclined to seek medical attention than men because their HRQOL was more adversely affected and because they were more apt to suffer from physical complaints such as stress incontinence, which provoked psychosocial issues such as becoming embarrassed.