Resp Care
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Fiberoptic bronchoscopy and lung biopsy are important diagnostic tools in patients with diffuse pulmonary infiltrates. However, these patients often have hypoxemic respiratory failure that makes this procedure hazardous. Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has been shown to improve oxygenation in hypoxemic patients. ⋯ NIV-assisted bronchoscopic lung biopsy is a novel method for obtaining diagnosis in hypoxemic patients with diffuse lung infiltrates. However, this approach should be reserved for centers with extensive experience in NIV. More studies are required to define the utility of this approach.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of cardiopulmonary responses during 2 incremental step tests in subjects with COPD.
It is well established that the work rate increment size affects the duration of test and physiological responses to exercise during cycling in patients with COPD. However, this has never been tested for incremental step tests. ⋯ The slower the work rate increment during step test, the higher the exercise tolerance. Regardless of the work rate increment, cardiopulmonary stress and exertion effort at peak exercise were equivalent between tests.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Recruitment maneuver in prevention of hypoxia during percutaneous dilational tracheostomy: randomized trial.
Percutaneous dilational tracheostomy (PDT) can potentially lead to hypoxia and alveolar derecruitment. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of performing a recruitment maneuver (RM) before tracheostomy, in order to improve oxygenation. ⋯ Our study suggests that application of RM before PDT could be useful to avoid hypoxemia following such procedure, by reducing fall in P(aO(2)) and preventing the decrease in oxygenation values below baseline at 6 hours.
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There are limited data on the safety and efficacy of recruitment maneuvers (RMs) in acute lung injury (ALI) patients. ⋯ Complications in adult ALI patients receiving RMs were common, but serious complications (eg, new air leak through an existing chest tube) were infrequent. There is a significant association between the number of RMs received and complications, even after controlling for illness severity and duration. Given their uncertain benefit in ALI patients, and the potential for complications with repeated application, the routine use of sustained inflation RMs is not justified.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Does experience influence the performance of neonatal and pediatric manual hyperinflation?
Manual hyperinflation (MH) is used to improve mucociliary clearance and alveolar expansion in mechanically ventilated patients. Despite the popularity of MH, studies with adults have shown considerable variability in the results from its use. This study assessed if professional training on the application of MH influences its performance. ⋯ The experienced and inexperienced groups were similar in their overall MH performance; the only difference was the observation of the highest PIF in the results from the experienced group.