Endobronchial valve to treat large bulla at right middle lobe in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

We have used endobronchial valve (EBV) to treat large bulla at right middle lobe (RML) on three chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and presented the clinical datum of three COPD patients with RML bulla. The improvement of lung function was significant on two patients, whose lung parenchyma was preserved well in lobes other than RML. On one patient, whose lung function did not show improvement after EBV treatment, the parenchyma of bilateral lungs was destructed heavily by chronic inflammation of COPD, and the RML bulla did not collapse because right major and/or minor fissures are incomplete.

Treatment of giant emphysamous bulla with endobronchial valves in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a case series.

Background: Giant emphysamtous bulla (GEB) can negatively affect the pulmonary functions of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) patients, including decreased forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and increased functional residual capacity (FRC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of endobronchial valve (EBV) to treat bullae and to find efficacy predictors of successful treatment.

Methods: Five COPD patients with giant bulla were treated using EBVs.

[Efficacy observation on refractory insomnia treated with the balance needling therapy].

Objective: To observe the difference in the clinical efficacy on refractory insomnia between the balance needling therapy and the conventional acupuncture and verify the effectiveness and practicality of the balance needling therapy.

Methods: Sixty cases were randomized into a balance needling therapy group, a conventional acupuncture group and a placebo group, 20 cases in each one. In the balance needling therapy group, Shi-mian (point for insomnia) was selected with quick needling manipulation.