Articles: chronic.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Jan 2014
Impact of Forced Vital Capacity Loss on Survival After the Onset of Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction.
Emerging evidence suggests a restrictive phenotype of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) exists; however, the optimal approach to its diagnosis and clinical significance is uncertain. ⋯ At CLAD onset, a subset of patients demonstrating physiology more suggestive of restriction experience worse clinical outcomes. Further study of the biologic mechanisms underlying CLAD phenotypes is critical to improving long-term survival after lung transplantation.
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Higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with lower mortality in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients. However, it is yet unclear which body component is responsible for this relationship. ⋯ Low skeletal muscle area, as assessed by CT scan during the early stage of critical illness, is a risk factor for mortality in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients, independent of sex and APACHE II score. Further analysis suggests muscle mass as primary predictor, not sex. BMI is not an independent predictor of mortality when muscle area is accounted for.
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · Jan 2014
Case ReportsSpinal Epidural Hematoma After Spinal Cord Stimulator Trial Lead Placement in a Patient Taking Aspirin.
Spinal epidural hematoma is a rare, but potentially devastating, consequence of accessing the epidural space for anesthesia or interventional pain procedures. There is no consensus to stop aspirin therapy before interventional chronic pain procedures. ⋯ The only variable that could have led to our patient's epidural hematoma is aspirin. This is the first reported case of aspirin leading to an epidural hematoma following an interventional chronic pain procedure. Prior to interventional pain procedures, one should contemplate cessation of aspirin therapy because there are, at present, no consensus guidelines to direct such a decision.