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Seminars in Respiratory and Critical... Aug 2022Malignant central airway obstruction (MCAO) is a debilitating and life-limiting complication that occurs in an unfortunately large number of individuals with advanced...
Malignant central airway obstruction (MCAO) is a debilitating and life-limiting complication that occurs in an unfortunately large number of individuals with advanced intrathoracic cancer. Although the management of MCAO is multimodal and interdisciplinary, the task of providing patients with prompt palliation falls increasingly on the shoulders of interventional pulmonologists. While a variety of tools and techniques are available for the management of malignant obstructive lesions, advancements and evolution in this therapeutic venue have been somewhat sluggish and limited when compared with other branches of interventional pulmonary medicine (e.g., the early diagnosis of peripheral lung nodules). Indeed, one pragmatic, albeit somewhat uncharitable, reading of this article's title might suggest a wry smile and shug of the shoulders as to imply that relatively little has changed in recent years. That said, the spectrum of interventions for MCAO continues to expand, even if at a less impressive clip. Herein, we present on MCAO and its endoscopic and nonendoscopic management-that which is old, that which is new, and that which is still on the horizon.
Topics: Airway Obstruction; Bronchoscopy; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Pulmonary Medicine; Pulmonologists
PubMed: 35654419
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1748187 -
MMW Fortschritte Der Medizin Oct 2019
Review
Topics: Artificial Intelligence; Humans; Physicians; Pulmonologists; Respiratory Function Tests
PubMed: 31587207
DOI: 10.1007/s15006-019-0955-0 -
Clinics in Chest Medicine Jun 2024The pericardium comprises a double-walled fibrous-serosal sac that encloses the heart. Reflections of the serosal layer form sinuses and recesses. With advances in... (Review)
Review
The pericardium comprises a double-walled fibrous-serosal sac that encloses the heart. Reflections of the serosal layer form sinuses and recesses. With advances in multidetector computed tomography (CT) technology, pericardial recesses are frequently detected with thin-section CT. Knowledge of pericardial anatomy on imaging is crucial to avoid misinterpretation of fluid-filled pericardial sinuses and recesses as adenopathy/pericardial metastasis or aortic dissection, which can impact patient management and treatment decisions. The authors offer a comprehensive review of pericardial anatomy and its variations observed on CT, potential pitfalls in image interpretation, and implications for the pulmonologist with respect to unnecessary diagnostic procedures or interventions.
Topics: Humans; Pericardium; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Pulmonologists; Multidetector Computed Tomography
PubMed: 38816085
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccm.2024.02.002 -
Chest May 2021Advising patients before air travel is a frequently overlooked, but important, role of the physician, particularly primary care providers and pulmonary specialists....
Advising patients before air travel is a frequently overlooked, but important, role of the physician, particularly primary care providers and pulmonary specialists. Although physiologic changes occur in all individuals during air travel, those with underlying pulmonary disease are at increased risk of serious complications and require a specific approach to risk stratification. We discuss the available tools for assessment of preflight risk and strategies to minimize potential harm. We also present a case discussion to illustrate our approach to assessing patients for air travel and discuss the specific conditions that should prompt a more thorough preflight workup.
Topics: Aerospace Medicine; Air Travel; Altitude; Humans; Lung Diseases; Medical History Taking; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; Physical Examination; Pulmonologists; Respiratory Function Tests; Risk Assessment
PubMed: 33212136
DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2020.11.002 -
MMW Fortschritte Der Medizin Aug 2018
Review
Topics: Asthma; Cross-Sectional Studies; Exercise Therapy; Humans; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Pulmonologists; Smoking Cessation; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 30105689
DOI: 10.1007/s15006-018-0827-z -
Seminars in Respiratory and Critical... Dec 2018Thoracoscopy is an increasingly common procedure that provides significant clinical information and therapeutic applications. The procedure allows the physician to... (Review)
Review
Thoracoscopy is an increasingly common procedure that provides significant clinical information and therapeutic applications. The procedure allows the physician to biopsy the parietal pleura under direct visualization with high accuracy. In addition, one can drain pleural fluid, place a chest tube in a precise location, and perform poudrage pleurodesis. Medical thoracoscopy (MT) is carried out in the operating room or procedure suite under moderate sedation with spontaneous ventilation. In comparison, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is performed under general anesthesia with single lung ventilation and through multiple ports in the operating room. MT is less invasive, has a comparable diagnostic yield, and may be better tolerated in high-risk patients. The indications, complications, and advances in thoracoscopy will be discussed in this article. In the era of rapidly evolving therapeutics for lung cancer, immune-modulation and ever-increasing risks of immunosuppression, MT will evolve and continue to play a pivotal role in the evaluation and research of pleuropulmonary diseases.
Topics: Biopsy; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Pleura; Pleural Effusion, Malignant; Pulmonologists; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted
PubMed: 30641587
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1676978 -
Chest Oct 2023Climate change adversely impacts global health. Increasingly, temperature variability, inclement weather, declining air quality, and growing food and clean water supply... (Review)
Review
Climate change adversely impacts global health. Increasingly, temperature variability, inclement weather, declining air quality, and growing food and clean water supply insecurities threaten human health. Earth's temperature is projected to increase up to 6.4 °C by the end of the 21st century, exacerbating the threat. Public and health care professionals, including pulmonologists, perceive the detrimental effects of climate change and air pollution and support efforts to mitigate its effects. In fact, evidence is strong that premature cardiopulmonary death is associated with air pollution exposure via inhalation through the respiratory system, which functions as a portal of entry. However, little guidance is available for pulmonologists in recognizing the effects of climate change and air pollution on the diverse range of pulmonary disorders. To educate and mitigate risk for patients competently, pulmonologists must be armed with evidence-based findings of the impact of climate change and air pollution on specific pulmonary diseases. Our goal is to provide pulmonologists with the background and tools to improve patients' health and to prevent adverse outcomes despite climate change-imposed threats. In this review, we detail current evidence of climate change and air pollution impact on a diverse range of pulmonary disorders. Knowledge enables a proactive and individualized approach toward prevention strategies for patients, rather than merely treating ailments reactively.
Topics: Humans; Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Allergens; Climate Change; Pulmonologists; Lung Diseases
PubMed: 37054776
DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2023.04.009 -
Der Pathologe Jul 2017Interstitial processes in the lungs of children can be due to several underlying diseases. Knowledge of the child's age is important as genetic aberrations play a major... (Review)
Review
Interstitial processes in the lungs of children can be due to several underlying diseases. Knowledge of the child's age is important as genetic aberrations play a major role in diseases in the first 2 years, whereas immunological diseases are more common starting in kindergarden age. In general lung diseases are rare in children, which makes the diagnostics difficult and results in a delayed diagnosis. In addition, pediatric pulmonologists are often very reluctant to perform lung biopsies due to a lack of a specialized pathologist. In order to make a contribution to the diagnostics of pediatric pulmonary diseases, pathologists should be specialized in pulmonary pathology, have a good knowledge of genetic methods and fetal lung development, which includes the genetic factors involved in lung growth and differentiation. A close cooperation with the pediatric pulmonologist is necessary and each patient should be discussed jointly on an interstitial lung disease board to promote the quality of diagnostics. The pathologist should be aware that the developing lungs of children are not just a smaller form of adult lungs and often react very differently. In this article, we mainly focus on diffuse infiltration patterns, such as ground glass and reticulonodular infiltrations as described in high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Localized interstitial processes, which can sometimes be tumor-like and malformations are not dealt with; however, vascular malformations are included as these often manifest as diffuse interstitial infiltrations and must therefore be taken into consideration for the differential diagnostics.
Topics: Biopsy; Child; Child, Preschool; DNA Mutational Analysis; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Lung; Lung Diseases, Interstitial; Prognosis; Pulmonary Surfactants; Risk Factors; Specialization; Syndrome; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 28349192
DOI: 10.1007/s00292-017-0280-2 -
Pediatric Pulmonology Apr 2019Children with respiratory conditions benefit from care provided by pediatric pulmonologists. As these physicians are a small portion of the overall pediatric workforce,...
AIM
Children with respiratory conditions benefit from care provided by pediatric pulmonologists. As these physicians are a small portion of the overall pediatric workforce, it is necessary to understand the practices and career plans of these specialists.
METHODS
An internet survey was developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics Division of Workforce and Medical Education Policy and sent to members of the American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Chest Physicians who identified as pediatric pulmonary physicians.
RESULTS
Responses were received from 485 physicians and were compared to the results of a similar survey done in 1997. Of those completing the survey, 63% were male and 37% female, with increased number of females since the earlier poll. The average calculated age was 56 years. They worked 54 h per week, down from 59 h in the prior survey. Pediatric pulmonologists are overwhelmingly clinicians (92%) with major responsibilities for administration (79%), teaching (78%), and research. Basic science research was rarely reported (7%). Pediatric pulmonologists felt that referrals had become more complicated in the recent past. Nearly all planned to maintain Pediatric Pulmonology Sub-board certification, though one third planned to cut back on clinical workload in the next decade. Many were concerned that the number needed in the profession in a decade would be inadequate with significant concerns about funding for those positions.
CONCLUSION
Overall, these results reflect the current state of the workforce and the need to monitor the supply of practitioners in the future.
Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pediatrics; Physicians; Pulmonary Medicine; Specialization; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States; Workforce; Workload
PubMed: 30864230
DOI: 10.1002/ppul.24253 -
Breathe (Sheffield, England) Mar 2022The continuous and ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has highly affected pulmonologists and pulmonology residents worldwide. To identify where... (Review)
Review
The continuous and ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has highly affected pulmonologists and pulmonology residents worldwide. To identify where additional work and resources must be focused, it is important to explore on what parameters the pulmonologists and residents are challenged. We present the results of a society-led survey on pulmonologists' and pulmonology residents' work and clinical life during the pandemic. A total of 579 pulmonologists and pulmonology residents completed the survey (5.9% of the European Respiratory Society's physician members) and most respondents answered that they have had sufficient training on how to handle patients with COVID-19 ( how to handle patients to prevent virus spread). However, more than a third of the respondents (n=210, 36.3%) had performed procedures they did not feel competent in due to the pandemic and, for example, relocation to COVID-19 units. We must strive for investment in research on medical education and potentially simulation-based training in technical procedures to ensure competence and decrease the insecurity about new procedures, especially in the setting of worldwide pandemics or acute critical situations.
PubMed: 36338252
DOI: 10.1183/20734735.0001-2022