Chest
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Respiratory support techniques for COVID-19-related ARDS in a sub-Saharan African country: A multi-center observational study.
Limited data from low-income countries report on respiratory support techniques in COVID-19-associated ARDS. ⋯ SOX, HFNO, CPAP, NIV, and IMV were used as respiratory support techniques in patients with COVID-19-associated ARDS in Uganda. Although these data are observational, they suggest that the use of SOX and HFNO therapy as well as awake proning are associated with a lower mortality resulting from COVID-19-associated ARDS in a resource-limited setting.
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Precapillary pulmonary hypertension is characterized by elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure from increased pulmonary vascular resistance. Lack of respiratory variation in right atrial pressure can be viewed as a surrogate for severe pulmonary hypertension and inability of the right ventricle to tolerate preload augmentation during inspiration. ⋯ Lack of respiratory variation in right atrial pressure is associated with poor clinical outcomes, adverse hemodynamic parameters, and right ventricular dysfunction in patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension. Larger studies are needed to further evaluate its utility in prognosis and potential risk stratification in patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension.
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COVID-19 has demonstrated a highly variable disease course, from asymptomatic to severe illness and eventually death. Clinical parameters, as included in the 4C Mortality Score, can predict mortality accurately in COVID-19. Additionally, CT scan-derived low muscle and high adipose tissue cross-sectional areas (CSAs) have been associated with adverse outcomes in COVID-19. ⋯ CT scan-derived low pectoralis muscle CSA is associated significantly with higher 30-day in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19 independently of the 4C Mortality Score.
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Observational Study
Stronger associations of centrilobular than paraseptal emphysema with longitudinal changes in diffusing capacity and mortality in COPD.
The factors associated with longitudinal changes in diffusing capacity remain unclear among patients with COPD. Centrilobular emphysema (CLE) and paraseptal emphysema (PSE) are major emphysema subtypes that may have distinct clinical-physiological impacts in these patients. ⋯ A CT scan finding of moderate or more severe CLE, but not PSE, was associated with a subsequent accelerated impairment in diffusing capacity and higher long-term mortality in severe GOLD stage among patients with COPD.
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The harm associated with imaging abnormalities related to lung cancer screening (LCS) is not well documented, especially outside the clinical trial and academic setting. ⋯ The use of invasive procedures to resolve false-positive findings was uncommon in the clinical practice of a nonuniversity LCS program that adhered to a nodule management algorithm and used a multidisciplinary approach. Incidental findings considered benign but clinically important resulted in invasive procedure rates that were similar to those for false-positive findings and frequently had clinical value.