Hospital Factors May Influence NIV Outcomes Even in Low-Evidence Use

Hospital Factors May Influence NIV Outcomes Even in Low-Evidence Use

Strong evidence supports use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) for patients with respiratory distress from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure – i.e., strong evidence conditions (SECs). A new study of... read more

A simple algorithm for the identification of clinical COPD phenotypes

A simple algorithm for the identification of clinical COPD phenotypes

This study aimed to identify simple rules for allocating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients to clinical phenotypes identified by cluster analyses.Data from 2409 COPD patients of French/Belgian COPD cohorts... read more

Detecting Undiagnosed Atrial Fibrillation with Cardiac Monitors

Detecting Undiagnosed Atrial Fibrillation with Cardiac Monitors

A group of researchers led by James A. Reiffel, M.D., did a study to determine the incidence of previously undiagnosed atrial fibrillation in high-risk patients with the use of insertable cardiac monitors (ICM). The results... read more

Steroids for severe CAP. Should I?

Steroids for severe CAP. Should I?

Steroids. I always have mixed feelings about them. It's a Love & Hate relationship inside my head. On one hand I cannot stand those who claim steroids are the critical care's Holy Grail. Steroids for sepsis, ARDS, trauma,... read more

Drug does not significantly reduce duration of mechanical ventilation for COPD patients

Drug does not significantly reduce duration of mechanical ventilation for COPD patients

Among mechanically ventilated patients with COPD, administration of the respiratory stimulant acetazolamide did not significantly reduce the duration of invasive mechanical ventilation.... read more

The Overlaps of Asthma or COPD with OSA

The Overlaps of Asthma or COPD with OSA

Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) are the most common respiratory disorders worldwide. Given demographic and environmental changes, prevalence for each is likely to increase. Some... read more

Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration

Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration

EBUS-TBNA is a safe procedure. The highest complication rate reported is 1.44%. Additionally, the scope damage could be encountered in 1.33% of cases and occasionally the TBNA needle could malfunction. The complications are... read more

COPD Patients Who Live Alone are Less Active

COPD Patients Who Live Alone are Less Active

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who live with a spouse, partner, or other caregiver are more active than patients who live alone, and are also more likely to participate in pulmonary rehabilitation... read more

Clinical Impact of COPD on Non-cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis

Clinical Impact of COPD on Non-cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis

Clinical impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. A study on 1,790 patients from the Spanish Bronchiectasis Historical Registry. Patients with BE related to COPD have the same... read more

Reduced Risk of Acute Exacerbation of COPD after Bariatric Surgery

Reduced Risk of Acute Exacerbation of COPD after Bariatric Surgery

Obesity is common among individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and associated with increased COPD morbidities. However, little is known about the impact of weight reduction on COPD-related outcomes... read more

Non-invasive Ventilation for the Management of AHRF due to Exacerbation of COPD

Non-invasive Ventilation for the Management of AHRF due to Exacerbation of COPD

Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) with bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) is commonly used to treat patients admitted to hospital with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (AHRF) secondary to an acute exacerbation of... read more

Frequency of Exacerbations in Patients with COPD

Frequency of Exacerbations in Patients with COPD

Present treatment strategies to stratify exacerbation risk in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) rely on a history of two or more events in the previous year. We aimed to understand year to year variability... read more

Effect of Noninvasive Ventilation Delivered by Helmet vs Face Mask on the Rate of Endotracheal Intubation in Patients With ARDS

Effect of Noninvasive Ventilation Delivered by Helmet vs Face Mask on the Rate of Endotracheal Intubation in Patients With ARDS

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) with a face mask is relatively ineffective at preventing endotracheal intubation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Delivery of NIV with a helmet may be a superior strategy... read more

COPD can increase risk of developing sepsis

COPD can increase risk of developing sepsis

People with COPD have a higher than average risk of developing lung infections, such as pneumonia, which then puts them at higher risk for developing sepsis. Sepsis and septic shock can result from an infection anywhere in... read more