Chest
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Clinical characteristics of patients with acute pulmonary embolism stratified according to their presenting syndromes.
The purpose of this investigation is to determine the characteristics of the history, physical examination, chest radiograph, and ECG, and the ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) lung scan probability in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) stratified according to their presenting syndrome. ⋯ Many of the findings in the various syndromes of PE can be understood in terms of the severity of PE as it increases from mild with the pulmonary infarction syndrome to moderate with the isolated dyspnea syndrome to severe with circulatory collapse. The prevalence of various clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with the syndrome of pulmonary infarction, isolated dyspnea, or circulatory collapse may give clues to the diagnosis or suggest characteristics that may reduce the likelihood of inadvertently discarding the diagnosis of PE.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
A new self-administered questionnaire to monitor health-related quality of life in patients with COPD. Ambulatory Care Quality Improvement Project (ACQUIP) Investigators.
To develop and validate a brief, computer-scannable, self-administered questionnaire to monitor health-related quality of life in patients with COPD. The Seattle Obstructive Lung Disease Questionnaire (SOLQ) consists of 29 items measuring four health dimensions: physical function, emotional function, coping skills, and treatment satisfaction. ⋯ The SOLQ is a reliable, valid, and responsive measure of physical and emotional function, coping skills, and treatment satisfaction. Brief, self-administered, and computer scannable, it is useful in monitoring long-term outcomes among large groups of COPD patients.
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To evaluate all tube thoracostomies (TTs) done by pulmonary/critical care fellows and attending physicians in the Medical University of South Carolina's health-care system documenting patient demographics, indication for placement, size and characteristics of the tube, and associated problems. ⋯ Tube thoracostomy can be safely performed by pulmonologists with relatively few associated problems.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Emergency treatment of acute asthma with albuterol metered-dose inhaler plus holding chamber: how often should treatments be administered?
To determine the optimal treatment interval for administering albuterol metered-dose inhaler (MDI) with a holding chamber to patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute asthma. ⋯ For acute asthma, albuterol MDI with a holding chamber can be given optimally at 60-min intervals with minimal adverse effects for the majority of patients. However, patients who initially demonstrate a low or poor bronchodilator response to albuterol should be given subsequent treatments at 30-min intervals. This will optimize care and conserve resources for patients who will benefit the most.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Likelihood of malignancy in a solitary pulmonary nodule: comparison of Bayesian analysis and results of FDG-PET scan.
To compare the probability of cancer in a solitary pulmonary nodule using standard criteria with Bayesian analysis and result of 2-[F-18] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomographic (FDG-PET) scan. ⋯ FDG-PET scan as a single test was a better predictor of malignancy in solitary pulmonary nodules than the standard criteria using Bayesian analysis. FDG-PET scan can be a useful adjunct test in the evaluation of solitary pulmonary nodules.