Chest
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A 27-year-old man with a history of bronchiolitis obliterans caused by a severe viral illness during early childhood that necessitated lung transplantation who was receiving tacrolimus therapy presented with rapidly worsening mental status. Prior to his change in mental status, his postoperative course was complicated by severe primary graft dysfunction and acute renal failure due to acute tubular necrosis that required continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). The patient had a prolonged intubation that required periodic BAL for mucous plugging. ⋯ After arousing that morning, the patient became combative, violent, and confused. This altered mentation progressed throughout the day to somnolence and lethargy, necessitating endotracheal intubation for airway protection. The patient experienced subsequent hypotension that necessitated low-dose epinephrine and vasopressin infusions.
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To recognize fully the benefit of lung cancer screening (LCS), annual adherence must approach the high levels seen in the National Lung Screening Trial. Emerging data suggest that annual adherence is poor and that a centralized approach to screening improves adherence. ⋯ Those screened using a centralized approach were more likely to meet eligibility criteria for LCS and more likely to return for annual screening than those screened using a decentralized approach.
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A 62-year-old woman with a long-term smoking history was evaluated at our lung cancer clinic for a new 2.5-cm lung nodule. She had a history of well-controlled COPD and hypertension. ⋯ Her subjective symptoms were nonproductive cough, exertional dyspnea, unintentional weight loss of 10 lb, and fatigue that had started 2 months earlier. She did not have fever or night sweats.