Revue médicale suisse
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Revue médicale suisse · May 2009
[Pulmonary rehabilitation: a multidisciplinary and comprehensive intervention].
Pulmonary rehabilitation is an evidence-based, multidisciplinary and comprehensive intervention for chronic pulmonary diseases, adressed to symptomatic patients and to patients with impairment of activities of daily life. The major outcomes of this intervention are an increased exercise capacity, a decrease in dyspnea and thereby a better quality of life. Underweight patients may benefit from a caloric and protein supplementation. Smoking cessation programs should be integrated in any pulmonary rehabilitation program.
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Revue médicale suisse · May 2009
[Bronchopleural fistula: a serious complication after thoracic surgery].
Postsurgical bronchopleural fistula (BPF) is a serious complication accompanied with a high mortality, requiring early and correct diagnosis. The acute form of BPF is usually a technical failure of the surgical stump requiring an immediate surgical reoperation. The subacute or chronic BPF is more difficult to diagnose because of non specific symptoms. It requires well targeted antibiotics depending on microbiology, an adequate drainage of the thoracic cavity and very often repeated surgical or endoscopic procedures.