Thoracic ultrasound in guiding management of respiratory disease.

Introduction: The use of ultrasound in respiratory disease has evolved substantially over the past two decades. From a test done to confirm the safe site of pleural fluid drainage, thoracic ultrasound has become a point-of-care test that guides the management of patients on respiratory wards, in clinics and endoscopy.

Areas Covered: This review overviews the process of ultrasound examination in the chest.

Imaging of pleural disease.

The pleural space is a "potential" anatomical space which is formed of two layers: visceral and parietal. It normally contains a trace of fluid (∼10 mL in each hemithorax). Diseases of the pleura can manifest with thickening of the pleural membranes or by abnormal accumulation of air or liquid.

Negative Nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 PCR Conversion in Response to Different Therapeutic Interventions.

Background The current management practices for patients with COVID-19 consist of infection prevention and supportive care. We aimed to explore the association between negative nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) clearance and different therapeutic interventions. Methods This study is a retrospective cohort study of 93 patients who were admitted to a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia with a PCR confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19.

Viral pneumonia and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis: the cause and the effect, case report.

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare lung disease characterized by the accumulation of amorphous lipoproteinaceous material in the distal air spaces due to defective surfactant clearance by alveolar macrophages. This leads to impaired gas exchange and arterial hypoxemia of varying degrees. Although autoimmune type of PAP is thought to be idiopathic, this focused report highlights the possible relationship between viral pneumonia and autoimmune PAP (APAP) in terms of causation, superinfection and effect of treatments.

Electronic cigarette among health science students in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Electronic cigarette (E-cigarette) is an electronic nicotine delivery device that has been advocated as a safe alternative for cigarette smokers. Since the introduction of E-cigarette internationally and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), it gained popularity, particularly among the youth and young adults. Moreover, many nonsmoker (nicotine-naïve) youth started to use E-cigarette as a new social habit.

Rasmussen's pseudoaneurysm- case report.

Background: Pulmonary aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms have various etiologies; however, the term Rasmussen's pseudoaneurysm refers specifically to a focal dilatation of a branch of the pulmonary artery into adjacent tuberculous cavity. The incidence of such tuberculosis related pulmonary vascular complication is extremely rare, hence, under recognized by many physicians. Management of pulmonary pseudoaneurysms is challenging as they present by life-threatening hemoptysis.

Gaining access to the periphery of the lung: Bronchoscopic and transthoracic approaches.

Globally, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death. Annual low-dose computed tomography has been recommended as a screening test for early detection of lung cancers. Implementing this screening strategy is expected to challenge pulmonologist to confirm the nature of the increasing number of detected pulmonary nodules.