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Annals of Medicine and Surgery (2012) Oct 2021Asthma is one of the commonest respiratory illnesses among elderly patients undergoing surgery. Detailed preoperative assessment, pharmacotherapy and safe anaesthetic... (Review)
Review
Asthma is one of the commonest respiratory illnesses among elderly patients undergoing surgery. Detailed preoperative assessment, pharmacotherapy and safe anaesthetic measures throughout perioperative period are the keys to decrease complications. Resistance to expiratory airflow results in positive alveolar pressures at the end of expiration, which causes air-trapping and hyperinflation of the lungs and thorax, increased work of breathing, and alteration of respiratory muscle function. This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for systematic review and metanalysis (PRISMA) statement. Search engines like PubMed through HINARI, Cochrane database and Google Scholars were used to find evidences. Low-dose IV ketamine, midazolam, IV lidocaine or combined with salbutamol are recommended to be used as premedication before induction. Propofol, ketamine, halothane, isoflurane and sevoflurane are best induction agents and maintenance for asthmatic surgical patients respectively. Among the muscle relaxants, vecuronium is safe for use in asthmatics. In addition, Succinylcholine and pancronium which releases low levels of histamine has been used safely in asthmatics with little morbidity.
PubMed: 34603720
DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2021.102874 -
Cureus Mar 2023Persistent air leaks (PALs) are associated with prolonged hospital stays, contamination and sustained infection of the pleural space, and significant morbidity. A... (Review)
Review
Persistent air leaks (PALs) are associated with prolonged hospital stays, contamination and sustained infection of the pleural space, and significant morbidity. A fistulous tract between the alveoli and the pleural space is referred to as an alveolar-pleural fistula (APF), whereas a fistulous tract between the bronchiole and the pleural space is referred to as a bronchopleural fistula (BPF). There is no consensus on the treatment, and multiple modalities exist for the management of persistent air leak (PAL). Autologous blood patch (ABP) is a relatively safe and inexpensive method that has been used for many years for the treatment of PALs. We conducted an electronic database search between 08/24/2022 and 08/27/2022 in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane using keywords. The following keywords were used: "Blood patch" OR "Autologous blood patch" AND "pleurodesis." Our study included all original studies with the prime focus on the etiology of PALs, clinical characteristics, procedural details of ABP, and outcomes of the proposed treatment. The primary outcomes that were the focus of our study were the time to seal the air leak, the time to remove the chest tube after air leak cessation, and the time to discharge from the hospital. To determine the safety of ABP, we also evaluated the procedural outcomes. Our findings suggest a statistically significant decrease in the time to air leak cessation when compared to the control group (mean difference of -3.75 {95% CI: -5.65 to -1.85; P=0.001}) with considerable heterogeneity of I=85% and P=0.001. However, the difference was not statistically significant when a lower dose of ABP (50 mL) was compared to a higher dose (100 mL) (mean difference of 1.48 {95% CI: -0.07 to 3.02; P=0.06}) and considerable heterogeneity of I=80% and P=0.03. There was no statistically significant difference in the time to discharge when compared to the control group (mean difference of -2.12 {95% CI: -4.83 to 0.59; P=0.13}) and considerable heterogeneity (I=95% and P<0.001). When compared to the control group, ABP did not provide any statistically significant difference in the risk ratio for infection (1.18 {95% CI: 0.52 to 2.65; P=0.70} and moderate heterogeneity {I=33% and P=0.20}), pain (1.18 {95% CI: 0.52 to 2.65; P=0.70} and moderate heterogeneity {I=33% and P=0.20}), and fever (0.54 {95% CI: 0.27 to 1.10; P=0.09} and no heterogeneity {I=0% and P=0.50}). Our study concludes that using ABP caused a statistically significant decrease in the time to air leak cessation when compared to the control group. However, the procedure does not provide a statistically significant difference in the time to discharge from the hospital when compared to conservative treatment. Similarly, there was no statistically significant difference in the risk ratio for complications such as infection, pain, and fever when compared to conservative management. More studies need to be conducted to fully understand the efficacy and safety of ABP in the management of PALs.
PubMed: 37090364
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.36466 -
Journal of Thoracic Disease Feb 2023Prolonged air leak (PAL) due to an alveolar-pleural fistula (APF) is the most common complication after lung surgery. PAL is associated with an increased risk of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Prolonged air leak (PAL) due to an alveolar-pleural fistula (APF) is the most common complication after lung surgery. PAL is associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality, a longer chest tube duration, hence a prolonged hospitalization. Management of PAL may be challenging, and the thoracic surgeon should be aware of the possible therapeutic strategies.
METHODS
A systematic literature review was performed in PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Ovid and Google Scholar. Title, abstract and full-text screening was performed, followed by structured data extraction, methodological quality assessment and Cochrane risk of bias assessment. Inclusion criteria were: case-control studies/randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the new tested method with the standard of care to manage PAL after lung surgery; PAL due to APF; at least 10 patients; English-written papers.
RESULTS
A total of 942 initial papers from literature search, resulted in 43 papers after the selection. This systematic review found that the use of intraoperative measures as surgical sealants or pleural tenting, as well as a proper management of the chest drain and the use of blood patch or sclerosant agents seem to reduce postoperative air leaks incidence and/or duration and length of chest drain stay and hospitalization.
CONCLUSIONS
Different measures have been described in literature to manage or prevent postoperative PAL. Most of them seem to be safe and efficient if compared to the "wait and see" strategy, even if large comparative studies that standardize the intra- and post-operative management of APF after lung resection are lacking and, actually, hard to conceptualize. However, there is a large consensus on the value of a preoperative PAL-risk stratification and on the necessity of tailoring PAL management or prevention's strategy and its timing on each patient's features.
PubMed: 36910073
DOI: 10.21037/jtd-22-736 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Nov 2023Effective subgingival biofilm removal is crucial for achieving positive and stable outcomes in periodontal therapy, forming an indispensable part of any periodontal... (Review)
Review
Effective subgingival biofilm removal is crucial for achieving positive and stable outcomes in periodontal therapy, forming an indispensable part of any periodontal treatment approach. The development of air-polishing tools has emerged as a promising alternative to hand and ultrasonic scalers for dental biofilm removal. The objective of this systematic review was to assess existing literature regarding the subgingival use of various types of air-polishing powders, as an effective method of subgingival biofilm control. For this, 55 articles on this subjected were sourced from searched databases and subjected to an evaluation process of their contained information, which was subsequently structured and compiled into this manuscript. The existing literature acknowledges that good subgingival biofilm control is essential for the success of periodontal therapy, including through subgingival air-polishing, as an adjunctive procedure. This approach has the potential to enhance patient comfort during and after subgingival mechanical plaque removal, thereby mitigating damage to periodontal structures. Consequently, it may lead to improved healing capabilities within the periodontal tissues and the formation of a more stable reparative gingival junctional epithelium.
PubMed: 37959401
DOI: 10.3390/jcm12216936 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Apr 2015Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) remains the most common opportunistic infection in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Among patients... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) remains the most common opportunistic infection in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Among patients with HIV infection and PCP the mortality rate is 10% to 20% during the initial infection and this increases substantially with the need for mechanical ventilation. It has been suggested that corticosteroids adjunctive to standard treatment for PCP could prevent the need for mechanical ventilation and decrease mortality in these patients.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the effects of adjunctive corticosteroids on overall mortality and the need for mechanical ventilation in HIV-infected patients with PCP and substantial hypoxaemia (arterial oxygen partial pressure < 70 mmHg or alveolar-arterial gradient > 35 mmHg on room air).
SEARCH METHODS
For the original review we searched The Cochrane Library (2004, Issue 4), MEDLINE (January 1980 to December 2004) and EMBASE (January 1985 to December 2004) without language restrictions. We further reviewed the reference lists from previously published overviews, searched UptoDate version 2005 and Clinical Evidence Concise (Issue 12, 2004), contacted experts in the field and searched the reference lists of identified publications for citations of additional relevant articles.In this update of our review, we searched the above-mentioned databases in September 2010 and April 2014 for trials published since our original review. We also searched for ongoing trials in ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trial Registry Platform (ICTRP). We searched for conference abstracts via AEGIS.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials that compared corticosteroids to placebo or usual care in HIV-infected patients with PCP in addition to baseline treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, pentamidine or dapsone-trimethoprim, and reported mortality data. We excluded trials in patients with no or mild hypoxaemia (arterial oxygen partial pressure > 70 mmHg or an alveolar-arterial gradient < 35 mmHg on room air) and trials with a follow-up of less than 30 days.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two teams of review authors independently evaluated the methodology and extracted data from each primary study. We pooled treatment effects across studies and calculated a weighted average risk ratio of overall mortality in the treatment and control groups using a random-effects model.In this update of our review, we used the GRADE methodology to assess evidence quality.
MAIN RESULTS
Of 2029 screened records, we included seven studies in the review and six in the meta-analysis. Risk of bias varied: the randomisation and allocation process was often not clearly described, five of seven studies were double-blind and there was almost no missing data. The quality of the evidence for mortality was high. Risk ratios for overall mortality for adjunctive corticosteroids were 0.56 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.32 to 0.98) at one month and 0.59 (95% CI 0.41 to 0.85) at three to four months of follow-up. In adults, to prevent one death, numbers needed to treat are nine patients in a setting without highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) available, and 23 patients with HAART available. The three largest trials provided moderate quality data on the need for mechanical ventilation, with a risk ratio of 0.38 (95% CI 0.20 to 0.73) in favour of adjunctive corticosteroids. One study was conducted in infants, suggesting a risk ratio for death in hospital of 0.81 (95% CI 0.51 to 1.29; moderate quality evidence).
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
The number and size of trials investigating adjunctive corticosteroids for HIV-infected patients with PCP is small, but the evidence from this review suggests a beneficial effect for adult patients with substantial hypoxaemia. There is insufficient evidence on the effect of adjunctive corticosteroids on survival in infants.
Topics: AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Adult; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Humans; Hypoxia; Pneumocystis carinii; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Respiration, Artificial
PubMed: 25835432
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006150.pub2 -
Journal of Applied Physiology... Dec 2017Exercise performance is determined by oxygen supply to working muscles and vital organs. In healthy individuals, exercise performance is limited in the hypoxic...
Exercise performance is determined by oxygen supply to working muscles and vital organs. In healthy individuals, exercise performance is limited in the hypoxic environment at altitude, when oxygen delivery is diminished due to the reduced alveolar and arterial oxygen partial pressures. In patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH), exercise performance is already reduced near sea level due to impairments of the pulmonary circulation and gas exchange, and, presumably, these limitations are more pronounced at altitude. In studies performed near sea level in healthy subjects, as well as in patients with PH, maximal performance during progressive ramp exercise and endurance of submaximal constant-load exercise were substantially enhanced by breathing oxygen-enriched air. Both in healthy individuals and in PH patients, these improvements were mediated by a better arterial, muscular, and cerebral oxygenation, along with a reduced sympathetic excitation, as suggested by the reduced heart rate and alveolar ventilation at submaximal isoloads, and an improved pulmonary gas exchange efficiency, especially in patients with PH. In summary, in healthy individuals and in patients with PH, alterations in the inspiratory Po by exposure to hypobaric hypoxia or normobaric hyperoxia reduce or enhance exercise performance, respectively, by modifying oxygen delivery to the muscles and the brain, by effects on cardiovascular and respiratory control, and by alterations in pulmonary gas exchange. The understanding of these physiological mechanisms helps in counselling individuals planning altitude or air travel and prescribing oxygen therapy to patients with PH.
Topics: Altitude; Exercise; Humans; Hyperoxia; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Hypoxia; Oxygen Consumption; Pulmonary Gas Exchange
PubMed: 28775065
DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00186.2017 -
Respiratory Research Nov 2017Persistent air leak (PAL) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospitalization and increased health-care costs. It can arise from a number... (Review)
Review
Persistent air leak (PAL) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospitalization and increased health-care costs. It can arise from a number of conditions, including pneumothorax, necrotizing infection, trauma, malignancies, procedural interventions and complications after thoracic surgery. Numerous therapeutic options, including noninvasive and invasive techniques, are available to treat PALs. Recently, endobronchial one-way valves have been used to treat PAL. We conducted a systematic review based on studies retrieved from PubMed, EMbase and Cochrane library. We also did a hand-search in the bibliographies of relevant articles for additional studies. 34 case reports and 10 case series comprising 208 patients were included in our review. Only 4 patients were children, most of the patients were males. The most common underlying disease was COPD, emphysema and cancer. The most remarkable cause was pneumothorax. The upper lobes were the most frequent locations of air leaks. Complete resolution was gained within less than 24 h in majority of patients. Complications were migration or expectoration of valves, moderate oxygen desaturation and infection of related lung. No death related to endobronchial one-way valves implantation has been found. The use of endobronchial one-way valve adds to the armamentarium for non-invasive treatments of challenging PAL, especially those with difficulties of anesthesia, poor condition and high morbidity. Nevertheless, prospective randomized control trials with large sample should be needed to further evaluate the effects and safety of endobronchial one-way valve implantation in the treatment of PAL.
Topics: Bronchoscopy; Endoscopy; Humans; Lung Diseases; Pneumothorax; Postoperative Complications
PubMed: 29110704
DOI: 10.1186/s12931-017-0666-y -
Journal of Thoracic Disease Mar 2017BioGlue is a commonly used sealant in thoracic surgery. Prolonged air leak and presence of bronchopleural fistulae (BPF) are often encountered in clinical practice. We...
BACKGROUND
BioGlue is a commonly used sealant in thoracic surgery. Prolonged air leak and presence of bronchopleural fistulae (BPF) are often encountered in clinical practice. We therefore, investigated the role and the efficacy of BioGlue in these scenarios.
METHODS
A systematic review was conducted by searching Medline [1966-2016] and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) [1999-2016] along with reference lists of the included studies. Included studies reported on thoracic surgery operations and use of BioGlue in thoracic surgical procedures, whereas excluded studies met at least one of the following criteria: non-English language studies, non-human population, studies on surgical specialties other than Thoracic surgery, reviews and meta-analyses and sealants other than BioGlue.
RESULTS
Twelve studies with a total number of 194 patients were included. Amongst them, 178 were treated for alveolar air leaks (AAL), 14 for BPF and 2 for lymphatic leaks. BioGlue was utilized at the time of initial operation in 172 (96.7%) patients for AAL, while at secondary intervention in 13 (92.9%) for BPF and 1 (50%) for lymphatic leak. In terms of AAL, only 2 out of 4 studies showed statistically significant reduction in duration of air leak, duration of intercostal drainage and length of stay (LOS) when BioGlue was applied. No complications were encountered after using BioGlue in sealing BPF, apart from the re-application of BioGlue in 3 cases.
CONCLUSIONS
Although BioGlue has been shown to be efficient in treating AAL, it should be used with caution against BPF, despite encouraging preliminary results. Potential adverse effects must always be taken into consideration. Future randomized controlled trials are warranted in an attempt to establish its benefit in current clinical practice.
PubMed: 28449464
DOI: 10.21037/jtd.2017.02.57 -
Annals of Global Health 2015Household air pollution (HAP)-associated acute lower respiratory infections cause 455,000 deaths and a loss of 39.1 million disability-adjusted life years annually. The... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Household air pollution (HAP)-associated acute lower respiratory infections cause 455,000 deaths and a loss of 39.1 million disability-adjusted life years annually. The immunomodulatory mechanisms of HAP are poorly understood.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of all studies examining the mechanisms underlying the relationship between HAP secondary to solid fuel exposure and acute lower respiratory tract infection to evaluate current available evidence, identify gaps in knowledge, and propose future research priorities.
METHODS
We conducted and report on studies in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. In all, 133 articles were fully reviewed and main characteristics were detailed, namely study design and outcome, including in vivo versus in vitro and pollutants analyzed. Thirty-six studies were included in a nonexhaustive review of the innate immune system effects of ambient air pollution, traffic-related air pollution, or wood smoke exposure of developed country origin. Seventeen studies investigated the effects of HAP-associated solid fuel (biomass or coal smoke) exposure on airway inflammation and innate immune system function.
RESULTS
Particulate matter may modulate the innate immune system and increase susceptibility to infection through a) alveolar macrophage-driven inflammation, recruitment of neutrophils, and disruption of barrier defenses; b) alterations in alveolar macrophage phagocytosis and intracellular killing; and c) increased susceptibility to infection via upregulation of receptors involved in pathogen invasion.
CONCLUSIONS
HAP secondary to the burning of biomass fuels alters innate immunity, predisposing children to acute lower respiratory tract infections. Data from biomass exposure in developing countries are scarce. Further study is needed to define the inflammatory response, alterations in phagocytic function, and upregulation of receptors important in bacterial and viral binding. These studies have important public health implications and may lead to the design of interventions to improve the health of billions of people daily.
Topics: Air Pollution; Air Pollution, Indoor; Biomass; Carbon Monoxide; Coal; Environmental Exposure; Family Characteristics; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Macrophages, Alveolar; Neutrophil Infiltration; Particulate Matter; Phagocytosis; Respiratory Tract Infections; Smoke; Transportation; Vehicle Emissions; Wood
PubMed: 26615071
DOI: 10.1016/j.aogh.2015.08.006 -
The Open Dentistry Journal 2016The treatment of Class III malocclusion has been challenging for orthodontists. Among a plethora of treatment modalities, the chin-cup is considered a traditional... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The treatment of Class III malocclusion has been challenging for orthodontists. Among a plethora of treatment modalities, the chin-cup is considered a traditional appliance for early orthopedic intervention.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aims to investigate the current scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of chin-cup therapy in Class III malocclusion of prognathic growing patients.
METHOD
A systematic review of the literature was conducted using PubMed/Medline and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from January 1954 to October 2015. Articles were selected based on established inclusion/ exclusion criteria.
RESULTS
The search strategy resulted in 3285 articles.14 studies were selected for the final analysis. They were all CCTs, 13 of retrospective and 1 of prospective design. Methodological quality was evaluated by a risk of bias assessment, as suggested by the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Non-Randomized Studies on Interventions. The reported evidence presented favorable short-term outcomes both in hard and soft tissues improving the Class III profile, as well as desirable dento-alveolar changes, positively affecting the Class III malocclusion.
CONCLUSION
There is considerable agreement between studies that chin-cup therapy can be considered for the short-term treatment of growing patients with Class III malocclusion, as indicated by favorable changes both in the hard and soft tissues. The existence of considerable risk of bias in all selected studies and the unclear long-term effectiveness of chin-cup therapy highlight the need for further investigation to draw reliable conclusions.
PubMed: 28077971
DOI: 10.2174/1874210601610010664