Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde
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Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd · Sep 1999
Case Reports[Delayed (tension) pneumothorax after placement of a central venous catheter].
Laborious attempts at introducing a central venous catheter for parenteral nutrition in two women, aged 36 and 62 years, were followed by shortness of breath after 32 and 10 hours, respectively. This symptom was due to a (tension) pneumothorax not visible on earlier roentgenograms. ⋯ Urgent chest X-ray examination should be performed in all patients with acute respiratory symptoms. Patients undergoing elective intubation with positive pressure breathing should be examined carefully, since they are at risk of developing a late (tension) pneumothorax.
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Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd · Sep 1999
Comparative Study[Use of noninvasive mechanical ventilation to avoid intubation during acute respiratory insufficiency].
To determine the value of noninvasive mechanical ventilation in patients with acute respiratory insufficiency. ⋯ Noninvasive mechanical ventilation prevented intubation in over half of the selected patients presenting with acute respiratory failure due to an exacerbation of COPD. The method appears to be less successful in acute respiratory failure due to other causes.