Pneumothorax in cystic fibrosis

Pneumothorax is recognized as a common and life-threatening complication in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, especially in those who are infected with P. aeruginosa, B. cepacia or Aspergillus, need enteral feeding, are diagnosed as suffering from allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), developed massive hemoptysis, and their respiratory function is seriously compromised. Structural impairment and altered airflow dynamics in the lungs of CF patients are considered as the main predisposing factors, but also inhaled medications and non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) could increase the risk of pneumothorax. Clinical presentation could range from dramatic to very mild. Management of spontaneous pneumothorax occurring to patients with CF is essentially similar to that for non-CF patients. Therapeutic options include intercostal tube drainage, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), and medical or surgical pleurodesis. Pneumothorax increases both short- and long-term morbidity and mortality in CF patients and causes significant deterioration of their quality of life.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: do not miss the chance for an early diagnosis

BACKGROUND

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension most often results from obstruction of the pulmonary vascular bed by nonresolving thromboemboli. Misdiagnosis of the disease is common because patients often present with subtle or nonspecific symptoms. Furthermore, some features in chest imaging may mimic parenchymal lung disease. The most clinically important mimic in high-resolution chest tomography is air trapping, which can be seen in a variety of small airway diseases.

CASE REPORT

We present the case of a 45-year-old woman with a long history of dyspnea and exercise intolerance, misdiagnosed with allergic alveolitis. The diagnosis of CTEPH was finally established with computed tomography (CT) angiography and hemodynamics.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic thromboembolism is under-diagnosed and also frequently misdiagnosed in clinical practice. The present report aims to increase the awareness of clinicians towards an accurate diagnosis of the disease, which is necessary for the early referral of CTEPH patients for operability.

Acute respiratory failure as primary manifestation of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated vasculitis

The systemic vasculitides are multifocal diseases characterized by the presence of blood vessel inflammation in multiple organ systems. Their clinical presentation is variable extending from self-limited illness to critical complications including diffuse alveolar hemorrhage and glomerulonephritis. Alveolar hemorrhage is a life-threatening manifestation of pulmonary vasculitis that can rapidly progress into acute respiratory failure requiring ventilatory support. We present the case of a 74-year-old patient admitted to the Intensive Care Unit with severe hypoxic respiratory failure and diffuse alveolar infiltrates in chest imaging that was later diagnosed as antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated vasculitis. The report highlights the importance of differentiate between alveolar hemorrhage and acute respiratory distress syndrome of other etiology because alveolar hemorrhage is reversible with prompt initiation of treatment.

COPD assessment test: a simple tool to evaluate disease severity and response to treatment

The COPD assessment test (CAT) is a short questionnaire designed to assess the impairment in health status of COPD patients. We aimed to determine the change of the CAT in COPD patients after 1 year of treatment and test the association between the score and clinical and lung function variables. Methods A cohort of 111 newly diagnosed COPD patients in primary care was evaluated at baseline and one year after the implementation of the recommended treatment according to the Global Initiative for the management of COPD (GOLD). Results Most of the patients (82%) were diagnosed with mild to moderate airflow limitation (mean FEV1 72 ± 21.5% predicted) and the CAT score increased in proportion with the GOLD stage of severity. The CAT significantly correlated with the number of exacerbations, visits to general practitioners and days of hospitalization both at the beginning and at 1 year follow-up. A strong negative correlation between the CAT score and FEV1 predicted was also observed. The CAT was responsive to the application of treatment with a significant improvement in the mean score (95% confidence interval) following 12 months of treatment by -2.4 (-2.9, -1.9) despite the small decline in lung function indices. The number of exacerbations in the preceding year and FEV1 were independent predictors of the CAT score in the general linear model. Conclusion The CAT questionnaire may serve as a simple, measurable tool complementary to spirometry in the assessment of severity and of response to treatment in unselected COPD patients in primary care.

Intra-abdominal infections: considerations for the use of the carbapenems

Intra-abdominal infection remains a common and frequently severe medical condition, carrying with it significant morbidity and mortality. These infections are almost always polymicrobial in nature as they are caused by mixed aerobic/anaerobic intestinal flora. Despite substantial improvements in both the medical and surgical management of these infections over the last several decades, there remains an opportunity to further enhance the utilization of adjunctive antibiotic therapy. As a result of the epidemiology and the current resistance profile of the infecting pathogens, the carbapenems represent a class of antibiotics that are considered appropriate for the treatment of severe intra-abdominal infections. This review will discuss the classification and microbiology of these infections and emerging resistance in the pathogens of interest. The review also and focuses on the role of the carbapenems in the management of the constellation of diseases known as intra-abdominal infection.