Last 3 months of life in home-ventilated patients: the family perception.

We studied the family's perception of care in patients under home mechanical ventilation during the last 3 months of life. In 11 respiratory units, we submitted a 35-item questionnaire to relatives of 168 deceased patients exploring six domains: symptoms, awareness of disease, family burden, dying, medical and technical problems. Response rate was 98.

A prospective randomized trial comparing completion technique of fissures for lobectomy: stapler versus precision dissection and sealant.

Objective: Alveolar air leaks are common after pulmonary resection, often prolonging hospitalization and increasing surgical morbidity and costs. Air leakages result from lung tissue traumatized by the dissection of fissures. This randomized and controlled trial evaluates 2 different surgical techniques for the completion of interlobar fissures during pulmonary lobectomy to establish which is superior in preventing air leakage.

End-of-life decision-making in respiratory intermediate care units: a European survey.

A survey was performed on behalf of the European Respiratory Society to assess end-of-life practices in patients admitted to European respiratory intermediate care units and high dependency units over a 6-month period. A 33-item questionnaire was sent by e-mail to physicians throughout Europe and the response rate was 28 (29.5%) out of 95.

Autologous blood patch in persistent air leaks after pulmonary resection.

Objective: Persistent air leak is among the most common complications after pulmonary resection, leading to prolonged hospitalization and increased costs. At present there is not yet a consensus on their treatment.

Methods: During a 7-year experience, 21 patients submitted to pulmonary resection were postoperatively treated with an autologous blood patch for persistent air leaks.