Annals of the American Thoracic Society
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Several studies suggest that nasal nitric oxide (nNO) measurement could be a test for primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), but the procedure and interpretation have not been standardized. ⋯ Using a standardized protocol in multicenter studies, nNO measurement accurately identifies individuals with PCD, and supports its usefulness as a test to support the clinical diagnosis of PCD.
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Patients defined as high operative risk by pulmonary function tests are often denied lobectomy or offered potentially less curative options, including sublobar resection or stereotactic body radiation therapy. ⋯ Lobectomy can be safely performed in select patients considered to be high risk for resection by pulmonary function tests. Additional criteria are needed to assess risk.
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Recent pathology studies report that the lungs of cigarette smokers may demonstrate small localized subpleural foci of interstitial fibrosis associated with emphysema. Pathologically, this lesion has been termed smoking-related interstitial fibrosis, respiratory bronchiolitis-interstitial lung disease (ILD) with fibrosis, or airspace enlargement with fibrosis, but it is commonly misinterpreted on imaging and biopsy as a diffuse fibrosing interstitial pneumonia. The high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) appearance of this process has not been defined. ⋯ These data suggest that a CT pattern of patchy areas of reticular changes about predominantly upper zone emphysematous spaces may be seen in smokers who do not have clinical evidence of a diffuse ILD. We propose that this lesion be called respiratory bronchiolitis with fibrosis (RBF) to avoid confusion with other forms of ILD. RBF probably accounts for some of the cases of ILD seen in large radiologic surveys of smokers. The pathology literature indicates that RBF either has no functional effects or at worst represents mild, usually nonprogressive disease, and hence separation from other, more serious, forms of ILD is important. Recognition of this lesion on imaging may obviate the need for lung biopsy.
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About 20% of patients hospitalized for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations are readmitted within 30 days. High 30-day risk-standardized readmission rates after COPD exacerbations will likely place hospitals at risk for financial penalties from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services starting in fiscal year 2015. Factors contributing to hospital readmissions include healthcare quality, access to care, coordination of care between hospital and ambulatory settings, and factors linked to socioeconomic resources (e.g., social support, stable housing, transportation, and food). ⋯ We recommend research that will provide the evidence base for strategies to reduce readmissions at minority-serving institutions. Promising innovative approaches include using a nontraditional healthcare workforce, such as community health workers and peer-coaches, and telemedicine. These strategies have been successfully used in other conditions and need to be studied in patients with COPD.
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Endoscopic lung volume reduction (ELVR) offers a novel therapeutic approach for patients with severe pulmonary emphysema. In Europe, several types of ELVR are available. The choice of ELVR technique depends both on the distribution of emphysema and the presence or absence of interlobar collateral ventilation (CV). ⋯ Like polymeric lung volume reduction, bronchoscopic thermal vapor ablation is also not influenced by CV and represents a good option for patients with upper-lobe-predominant emphysema. Exhale airway stents for emphysema--"airway bypass"--appeared to be a promising technique but proved ineffective in randomized clinical trials, likely in part due to long-term occlusion of the drug-eluting stents. Although European physicians are able to choose from a host of approved bronchoscopic interventions for emphysema, future studies for techniques in use are needed to further clarify patient selection criteria.