Fiberoptic Bronchoscopic Submucosal Injection of Mitomycin C for Recurrent Bening Tracheal Stenosis: A Case Series.

Background: Benign tracheal stenosis has emerged as a therapeutic challenge for physicians involved in the care of survivors of critical care units. Although the traditional mainstay of open surgical reconstructive treatment is still considered the gold standard, endoscopic therapies such as laser re-canalization, balloon dilation, or stenting are commonly practiced in invasive bronchology. Recurrent obstructing granulomas pose a challenge for bronchoscopists.

Mechanisms of Effort Intolerance in Patients With Heart Failure and Borderline Ejection Fraction.

Combining echocardiography and cardiopulmonary stress testing allows noninvasive assessment of hemodynamics, and oxygen extraction (A-VO difference). We evaluated mechanisms of effort intolerance in patients with heart failure with borderline (40% to 49%) left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) (HF and Borderline Ejection fraction). We included 89 consecutive patients with HF and Borderline Ejection fraction (n = 25; 63.

Discriminating Circulatory Problems From Deconditioning: Echocardiographic and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test Analysis.

Background: Discriminating circulatory problems with reduced stroke volume (SV) from deconditioning, in which the muscles cannot consume oxygen normally, by gas exchange parameters is difficult.

Methods: We performed combined stress echocardiography (SE) and cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET) in 110 patients (20 with normal effort capacity, 54 with attenuated SV response, and 36 with deconditioning) to evaluate multiple hemodynamic parameters and oxygen content difference (A-V.o Diff) in four predefined activity levels to assess which of the gas measures may help in the discrimination.

[Cardiopulmonary stress test--interpretation and clinical indications].

A recent report in Harefuah has introduced cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX), presenting its physiological basis and key parameters. Despite the fact that multiple guideline documents and scientific statements have been published in the last few years by the leading European and American societies summarizing the incremental information added by the addition of ventilatory gas exchange measurements, CPX continues to be underutilized by the practicing clinician. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of understanding of the value of CPX by the practicing clinicians.

[Cardiopulmonary stress test--physiological basis and key variables].

A recent report in Harefuah introduced cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) and its role in evaluating effort intolerance. Despite the fact that multiple guideline documents and scientific statements have been published in the last few years by the leading European and American societies, summarizing the incremental information supplemented by the addition of ventilatory gas exchange measurements, CPX continues to be underutilized by the practicing clinician. The reasons for this are many and include the requirement for additional equipment, the lack of understanding of the physiological basis by the practicing clinicians, and the seemingly complicated graphical report of this technique.