Ventilator- and interface-related factors influencing patient-ventilator asynchrony during noninvasive ventilation.

Patient-ventilator asynchrony (PVA) is common in patients receiving noninvasive ventilation (NIV). This occurs primarily when the triggering and cycling-off of ventilatory assistance are not synchronized with the patient's inspiratory efforts and could result in increased work of breathing and niv failure. In general, five types of asynchrony can occur during NIV: ineffective inspiratory efforts, double-triggering, auto-triggering, short-ventilatory cycling, and long-ventilatory cycling.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension in Saudi patients with systemic sclerosis: Clinical and hemodynamic characteristics and mortality.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). The objective of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics, mortality, and predictors of SSc-PAH in Saudi patients.

Methods: Retrospective chart review study of SSc patients who were followed for at least 1 year in three tertiary care centers in Saudi Arabia was conducted.

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome.

Background: Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) can be complicated by several cardiovascular conditions. We assessed the prevalence and factors associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in patients with OHS.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, all consecutive OHS patients referred to the sleep disorders clinic between January 2002 to December 2016 were included (n=113).

Unusual case of central alveolar hypoventilation.

Central alveolar hypoventilation is rarely encountered. This case report describes a young woman who was recently diagnosed with hypertension and ischemic heart disease. She presented to the emergency room with hypercapnic respiratory failure, for which she was mechanically ventilated.

Assessment of antigen presenting cell infiltration in lung tissues of patients with bronchiectasis.

Background: Bronchiectasis is a chronic disease characterized by permanent dilatation of the conducting airways accompanied by sustained inflammation.

Aims: To assess whether chronic inflammation of lungs in bronchiectasis is associated with alterations in the numbers of infiltrating antigen presenting cell (APC).

Setting And Design: Lobectomy specimens from 12 nonsmoker, nonasthmatic patients with acquired (noncongenital) bronchiectasis and six control patients were included in the study.

The Levels of Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor in Sepsis Patients Receiving Prophylactic Enoxaparin.

Objective: Sepsis syndrome is usually accompanied by activation of blood coagulation mechanisms. Earlier studies found deficiencies of the 3 main natural anticoagulants, antithrombin, protein C, and protein S. However, none of these inhibitors block tissue factor, the prime trigger of coagulation during sepsis that is controlled specifically by the tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI).

A case of near fatal asthma: The role of ECMO as rescue therapy.

We report a case of an adolescent with near fatal asthma (NFA). He presented with severe hypoxemia and lifethreatening acidemia, who failed to respond to conventional therapy. His hospital course was complicated by barotrauma and hemodynamic instability.

Outcome of pulmonary embolism and clinico-radiological predictors of mortality: Experience from a university hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine the outcome of pulmonary embolism (PE) and the clinico-radiological predictors of mortality in a university hospital setting.

Methods: A Prospective observational study conducted at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh Saudi Arabia between January 2009 and 2012. A total of 105 consecutive patients (49.

Bronchoscopy as a rescue therapy in patients with status asthmaticus: Two case reports and review of literature.

Management of status asthmaticus requires more than guidelines-guided therapy. Occasionally, uncommon therapeutic interventions and procedures may provide significant benefits. The role of bronchoscopy in fatal asthma is still not clearly defined.

Venous thromboembolism in a medical intensive care unit. The effect of implementing clinical practice guidelines.

Objective: To determine the incidence of VTE in medical patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) following the implementation of a standard deep venous thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis protocol using unfractionated heparin (UFH), and to identify risk factors for DVT in these patients.

Methods: We prospectively studied 123 consecutive patients admitted to the Medical ICU of King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We excluded patients on anticoagulation or with contraindications for heparin.

Prediction of pulmonary hypertension in patients with or without interstitial lung disease: reliability of CT findings.

Purpose: To study the reliability of pulmonary vascular measurements based on computed tomography (CT) in the prediction of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with advanced interstitial lung disease (ILD) compared with those without ILD.

Materials And Methods: The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board. All patients gave written informed consent.

Yield and complications of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy in a teaching hospital.

Objective: To assess the diagnostic yield and safety of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FFB).

Methods: A retrospective review of bronchoscopy reports and corresponding patients charts over 3 years from January 2004 - December 2006 in King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Indication for procedure, suspected diagnosis, final diagnosis, and complications were reported.

Right and left ventricular function and pulmonary artery pressure in patients with bronchiectasis.

Background: Bronchiectasis may have deleterious effects on cardiac function secondary to pulmonary hypertension (PH). This study was designed to assess cardiac function and determine the prevalence of PH in patients with cystic and cylindrical bronchiectasis.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of patients with bronchiectasis diagnosed by CT scan was conducted at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between December 2005 and January 2007.