Publications by authors named "A Kalkanis"
The coexistence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the same patient is referred to as overlap syndrome (OS). Patients with OS suffer more frequently from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and carry a higher risk of COPD-related exacerbations than patients with COPD alone, especially when OSA is left untreated. Based on recent evidence, triple therapy, namely inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting muscarinic antagonist/long-acting beta-agonist (ICS-LABA-LAMA), is a treatment strategy in COPD patients with a history of exacerbations and/or CVD comorbidity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAssessing and treating respiratory muscle dysfunction is crucial for patients with both acute and chronic respiratory failure. Respiratory muscle dysfunction can contribute to the onset of respiratory failure and may also worsen due to interventions aimed at treatment. Evaluating respiratory muscle function is particularly valuable for diagnosing, phenotyping and assessing treatment efficacy in these patients.
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- - The study investigated the occurrence and factors influencing sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in cystic fibrosis patients who underwent lung transplantation, identifying that out of 62 participants, 30 experienced SDB but mostly with mild severity.
- - Key predictors of SDB included older age, being male, and having smaller thoracic gas volume, and while there were some improvements in sleep quality post-transplant, the overall increase in apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) raises questions about its clinical impact.
- - The findings suggest that while SDB is common in lung transplant recipients with cystic fibrosis, its severity tends to be mild, and specific demographics (older males with improved lung hyperinflation) may need closer monitoring for
Article Synopsis
- Unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis (UDP) often occurs after cardiac surgery, particularly on the left side, but this case highlights a rare instance of right-sided UDP following endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
- A 60-year-old male patient was observed with breathing difficulties after his CABG, revealing diminished sounds in the right lung and a diagnosis of UDP and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS).
- The treatment plan included inspiratory muscle training and CPAP therapy to improve breathing and address the effects of OSAS, while also discussing the significance of ultrasound in diagnosing and monitoring diaphragmatic dysfunction post-surgery.