1/11. bronchiectasis: the 'other' obstructive lung disease.bronchiectasis belongs to the family of chronic obstructive lung diseases, even though it is much less common than asthma, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema. Clinical features of these entities overlap significantly. The triad of chronic cough, sputum production, and hemoptysis always should bring bronchiectasis to mind as a possible cause. Chronic airway inflammation leads to bronchial dilation and destruction, resulting in recurrent sputum overproduction and pneumonitis. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, any potential predisposing conditions should be aggressively sought. The relapsing nature of bronchiectasis can be controlled with antibiotics, chest physiotherapy, inhaled bronchodilators, proper hydration, and good nutrition. In rare circumstances, surgical resection or bilateral lung transplantation may be the only option available for improving quality of life. prognosis is generally good but varies with the underlying syndrome.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/11. Invasive aspergillus niger with fatal pulmonary oxalosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.The ubiquitous Aspergillus fungus has numerous manifestations when associated with lung disease (primary Aspergillus pneumonia, aspergilloma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, and invasive Aspergillus). This fungus also can colonize preexisting lung disease in an indolent manner and then acutely assume a more invasive nature. Although the species aspergillus niger is infrequently encountered, the endobronchial visualization of black necrotic debris or a fungus ball or the finding of black acidic sputum or pleural fluid suggests the presence of A niger and the destructive by-product of its fermentation, oxalic acid.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/11. Micronodular hyperplasia of type II pneumocytes--a new lung lesion associated with tuberous sclerosis.Open lung biopsy in a 38-year-old female with Pringle-Bourneville syndrome and recurrent pneumothorax revealed a micronodular pneumocyte II hyperplasia, a new entity probably associated with the tuberous sclerosis syndrome. The lesion caused an obstruction of the alveolar lymphatic vessels and alveolar ducts, resulting in an emphysema-like picture. This cystic dilation of alveoli and draining lymphatics followed by rupture caused the recurrent pneumothorax. The epithelial pneumocytic nature of the lesion was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and electronmicroscopy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/11. 'Breathtaking': the consequences of chronic respiratory disorder.Chronic obstructive airways disease (COAD) is a major, though neglected, medical and social problem in the United Kingdom today. Dyspnoea is one of the most distressing and disabling symptoms of COAD, which is itself the largest single cause of absence from work in the United Kingdom. This paper reports on 92 patients suffering from COAD, who were interviewed in order to assess impairment, disability and handicap, and a smaller subsample of 24 of these patients who were followed-up using open-ended, semi-structured, tape-recorded interviews in order to cover in more detail some of the issues raised in the first quantitative stage of the study. Low correlations were found between lung function and disability (-0.38 p less than 0.001), accounting for only 14% of the variance, and high correlations between measures of dyspnoea and disability (-0.90 p less than 0.001). Major areas of disability and handicap included: household management, ambulation, sleep and rest, recreation and pastimes, and work. Financial problems and difficulties, housing problems and problems of social isolation were also frequently reported. The paper then attempts to explore the relationship between impairment, disability and handicap, drawing on both the quantitative and qualitative data collected in order to illustrate the variable nature of this relationship. The paper concludes by suggesting both the need for a more integrated approach to the care and rehabilitation of COAD patients and their families, and for a complementary social perspective and approach to COAD and its treatment.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/11. The depressed patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.The case of a 65-year-old woman with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is presented to demonstrate the nature of depression in this disease entity. The patient responded to the therapeutic environment on a psychiatric ward that was comforting to patients with chronic medical illnesses. The use of brief psychotherapy and psychopharmacology in patients with emphysema is also reviewed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/11. Digital signal processing of stridor and snoring in children.Stridor and snoring are common signs of upper airway obstruction. The nature and characteristics of the stridor and snoring depend upon the site of obstruction. Sophisticated analysis of these sounds may provide important information concerning the source of the sound helping to assess the patient more objectively. The preliminary results of computerized digital analysis of stridor and snoring sounds are presented in 5 children. Two main programs were applied to analyse the signal: the Power Spectral Density (PSD) function and the Estimated Cross-sectional Area (ECSA). A consistent pattern according to the site of the produced sound was seen. Further acoustical analyses are needed to standardize this method and to program the computer to indicate the various sites of lesions.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/11. Pulmonary function testing in children with cardiac disease.These cases illustrate the clinical importance of pulmonary function testing in children. The first case demonstrated a significant restrictive defect in a child with pulmonic stenosis and scoliosis. Although this child had no respiratory symptoms, it was important to document the degree of functional impairment to plan for her postoperative course. The second case demonstrated the way in which pulmonary function tests can lead to a specific diagnosis and provide important information about response to therapy. This patient had distressing symptoms which limited her ability to participate in sports. Her chest x-ray revealed no significant abnormality and she had no auscultatory finding. Pulmonary function tests defined both the nature and severity of her problems and provided objective information about her response to therapy. In the third case, one might have anticipated decreases in flow rates and lung volumes because of neuromuscular weakness. That was not evident on testing and the patient had an uneventful postoperative recovery. Pulmonary function testing provides invaluable information about the nature and severity of functional impairment in children with known or suspected pulmonary disease. New equipment and individuals specifically trained to work with children now permit the evaluation of even young children. Pulmonary function testing can expand our knowledge of disease processes and improve our therapeutic strategies.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/11. Management of difficult airway problems with percutaneous transtracheal ventilation.Percutaneous transtracheal jet ventilation was used in the management of 13 cases of upper airway obstruction. Cases are subdivided according to the nature of the presenting airway problem. The first group had stable upper airway abnormalities; the second group presented as emergencies with rapidly evolving upper airway obstruction. This technique has two major advantages: 1) it provides rapid access to the airway during acute emergencies; and 2) it provides control of the airway where tissue distortion from head and neck trauma or tumor surgery makes standard anesthetic techniques difficult. Complications including catheter displacement, total expiratory obstruction, pneumothorax, and subcutaneous emphysema have been encountered. The authors conclude that percutaneous transtracheal jet ventilation is effective. However, potential problems exist and an in-depth understanding of the technique is necessary for its appropriate application and successful use.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/11. Pulmonary disease in idiopathic urticarial vasculitis.A 45-year-old woman developed chronic urticaria clinically and cutaneous necrotizing vasculitis histologically, with arthralgias, abdominal pain, angioedema, hemoptysis, and pleuritic chest pain. An open lung biopsy revealed a leukocytoclastic vasculitis of the pulmonary venules, which may be etiologically associated with the chronic obstructive lung disease detected in this patient by pulmonary function tests. The documentation of pulmonary disease in patients with urticarial vasculitis emphasizes the potentially serious nature of this disorder and the need for careful diagnosis and prompt, vigorous treatment.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/11. The subjective and psychosocial nature of breathlessness.Dyspnoea, also referred to as breathlessness, is a concern of nurses in most clinical settings. Nursing interventions are directed toward preventing or treating dyspnoea in a timely manner. Even though dyspnoea is a common phenomenon found in clinical settings and discussed in the literature, it has not been added formally to the list of diagnoses developed by the North American nursing diagnosis association, most likely because it is an isolated, observable sign. However, breathlessness, the related construct, is a distinctly different phenomenon from dyspnoea. The terms dyspnoea and breathlessness are used interchangeably in the literature. Traditionally, dyspnoea is defined as difficult or laboured breathing observable to another person. Breathlessness is the subjective feeling of laboured breathing with and without dyspnoea and/or abnormal pulmonary functions. These authors submit that the nursing diagnosis of breathlessness consists of two essential defining criteria, the subjective feeling of difficulty in breathing and anxiety, in the presence or absence of dyspnoea and/or abnormal pulmonary functions. A biopsychosocial model is presented to guide research and nursing care for individuals who experience breathlessness.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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