Lung transplantation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: past, present, and future directions.

Purpose Of Review: Lung transplantation offers an effective treatment modality for patients with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The exact determination of when to refer, list, and offer transplant as well as the preferred transplant procedure type remains unclear. Additionally, there are special considerations specific to patients with COPD being considered for lung transplantation, including the implications of single lung transplantation on lung cancer risk, native lung hyperinflation, and overall survival.

Three decades of transtracheal oxygen therapy: A review of the associated complications with an illustrative case presentation.

Transtracheal oxygen therapy is a well-established modality for improving oxygenation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep apnea, pulmonary fibrosis, and other conditions causing hypoxic respiratory failure. In spite of its proven track record, the device remains underutilized. This article reviews benefits and complications related to the use of this modality with an illustrative case presentation.

Not all right-sided hearts are the same-the importance of identifying the correct diagnosis.

Scimitar syndrome is characterized by an anomalous venous return with the characteristic chest roentgenogram (CxR) appearance of the anomalous vein draining into the inferior vena cava (IVC). This appears as a curvilinear opacity paralleling the right border of the heart resembling a curved sword or Scimitar. A 27-year-old white woman with a reported history of dextrocardia was admitted after a drug overdose.