Annals of the American Thoracic Society
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Digitoxin for Airway Inflammation in Cystic Fibrosis: Preliminary Assessment of Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Dose Finding.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease progresses by a combination of airway inflammation, bacterial colonization, and infection. Airway inflammation is predominantly neutrophilic and complicates airway clearance therapies through cellular debris; excessive DNA; excessive and viscous mucus; and high concentrations of neutrophils, IL-8, and related cytokines liberated along the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway. ⋯ At a dose of 0.1 mg daily for 28 days, digitoxin was safe for adults with CF lung disease, but it did not achieve a significant decrease in sputum inflammatory markers. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00782288).
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There are limited data on physiotherapy during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ⋯ Physiotherapy during ECMO is feasible and safe when performed by an experienced team and executed in stages. Although our study suggests an association with improved ICU mortality, future research is needed to identify potential barriers, optimal timing, dosage, and safety profile.
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There is a paucity of data regarding the optimal surgical approach for lung lobectomy. Lobectomy performed by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been associated with lower morbidity as compared with lobectomy performed by thoracotomy. However, no multicenter studies have shown improved mortality with VATS lobectomy compared with open surgical lobectomy. ⋯ In recent years, the use of VATS for lobectomy has increased relative to thoracotomy. This trend has coincided with increased survival and shorter length of stay for VATS lobectomy compared with thoracotomy. Further studies are needed to identify comorbidities that identify ideal candidates for VATS lobectomy.
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Observational Study
Variation in Postsepsis Readmission Patterns: A Cohort Study of Veterans Affairs Beneficiaries.
Rehospitalization is common after sepsis, but little is known about the variation in readmission patterns across patient groups and care locations. ⋯ Hospital readmission rates after sepsis were similar by site and admission year. Heart failure, pneumonia, sepsis, and urinary tract infection were common readmission diagnoses across all patient groups. Readmission for infection and potentially preventable diagnoses were more common in older patients and patients discharged to nursing facilities.
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Observational Study
Airway Management Strategies for Brain-injured Patients Meeting Standard Criteria to Consider Extubation. A Prospective Cohort Study.
Patients with acute brain injury are frequently capable of breathing spontaneously with minimal ventilatory support despite persistent neurological impairment. ⋯ Extubation success was predicted by younger age, presence of cough, and negative fluid balance, rather than GCS score at extubation. These results do not support prolonging intubation solely for low GCS score in brain-injured patients.