Restrictive Spirometric Pattern and Postoperative Pulmonary Complications Following Non-cardiothoracic Surgery.

Despite a substantial population of patients with a restrictive spirometric pattern, few studies have evaluated postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) after non-cardiothoracic surgery in these patients. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 681 adults with a normal or restrictive spirometric pattern who were referred for preoperative evaluation of PPC risk before non-cardiothoracic surgery between March 2014 and January 2015. Overall, 8.

Clinical usefulness of routine AFB culture and MTB PCR of EBUS-TBNA needle rinse fluid.

Background And Objective: We evaluated the usefulness of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) culture and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) needle rinse fluid for diagnosing tuberculous lymphadenitis.

Methods: EBUS-TBNA needle rinse fluid was routinely used for AFB culture and MTB PCR. The patients were categorized according to the pre-procedural diagnosis (Group A, suspected/histology-confirmed lung cancer; Group B, extrapulmonary malignancy; and Group C, other benign diseases).

Airflow limitation severity and post-operative pulmonary complications following extra-pulmonary surgery in COPD patients.

Background And Objective: The association between airflow limitation severity and post-operative pulmonary complications (PPCs) among COPD patients undergoing extra-pulmonary surgery is unknown. We evaluated the association between forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV ) and PPC in COPD patients undergoing extra-pulmonary surgery.

Methods: Using prospective cohort of PPC evaluation for extra-pulmonary surgery, we identified 694 COPD patients who conducted PPC evaluation before extra-pulmonary surgery between March 2014 and January 2015 at a tertiary hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Clinical and Laboratory Differences between Lymphocyte- and Neutrophil-Predominant Pleural Tuberculosis.

Pleural tuberculosis (TB), a form of extrapulmonary TB, can be difficult to diagnose. High numbers of lymphocytes in pleural fluid have been considered part of the diagnostic criteria for pleural TB; however, in many cases, neutrophils rather than lymphocytes are the predominant cell type in pleural effusions, making diagnosis more complicated. Additionally, there is limited information on the clinical and laboratory characteristics of neutrophil-predominant pleural effusions caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB).

Lung Function Decline According to Clinical Course in Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Lung Disease.

Background: There are few data regarding the impact of nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTM-LD) on lung function during the clinical course of disease. This study aimed to assess the impact of NTM-LD on lung function decline.

Methods: Treatment outcomes and spirometry data at diagnosis and at least three years later were obtained from 358 patients who were diagnosed with NTM-LD between January 1999 and November 2011 using the prospective NTM registry cohort.

Clinical Utility of Additional Measurement of Total Lung Capacity in Diagnosing Obstructive Lung Disease in Subjects With Restrictive Pattern of Spirometry.

Background: Total lung capacity (TLC), forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% (FEF25-75%), peak expiratory flow (PEF), or post-bronchodilator volume response is recommended to detect obstructive abnormalities in the lung. The present study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of these pulmonary function test (PFT) parameters to diagnose obstructive lung disease in subjects with a restrictive pattern of spirometry.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in 64 subjects with a restrictive pattern of spirometry (normal FEV1/FVC and low FVC) out of 3,030 patients who underwent all pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry and lung volume measurement between April 2008 and December 2010.

The complex association of metabolic syndrome and its components with computed tomography-determined emphysema index.

Background: Recent reports have suggested the association between emphysema and cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, there are few reports regarding association of emphysema severity with metabolic syndrome and its components representing CVD risk factors.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed in 2814 adult male subjects over age 40 who visited the Health Promotion Center in Samsung Medical Center for a health checkup program.

Results: We classified patients according to the quintiles of forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) and emphysema index (EI).

Mycobacterium abscessus Lung Disease in a Patient with Kartagener Syndrome.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is characterized by the congenital impairment of mucociliary clearance. When accompanied by situs inversus, chronic sinusitis and bronchiectasis, PCD is known as Kartagener syndrome. The main consequence of impaired ciliary function is a reduced mucus clearance from the lungs, and susceptibility to chronic respiratory infections due to opportunistic pathogens, including nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM).