Respiratory care
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The Revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) is widely employed in assessing functional decline in individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A limitation of the scale is that item 12 does not directly evaluate worsening respiratory failure in ALS but rather the management thereof as a surrogate marker. We propose an alternative scale to assess respiratory function in ALS individuals who do not use noninvasive ventilation (NIV). ⋯ Our results suggest that the addition of an alternative item 12 to the existing ALSFRS-R may be a viable option for use in individuals not receiving ventilatory support. The new nocturnal hypoventilation item may also be a reliable indicator of respiratory decline that may remove the need for FVC measurement prior to introducing NIV.
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Observational Study
Rapid Shallow Breathing Index as a Predictor for Intubation and Mortality in Acute Respiratory Failure.
Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is one of the most important therapeutic tools in patients with acute respiratory failure. However, in case of incorrect patient selection it can delay necessary intubation and is associated with complications and even mortality. Patient selection, therefore, plays a key role in therapeutic success. The purpose of this study was to determine the value of the rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI) in predicting the failure of NIV. ⋯ RSBI can be a successful marker in predicting the failure of NIV and predicting in-hospital mortality in patients admitted to the ED with acute respiratory failure.