Pulmonary Vasodilator Therapy in Severe Pulmonary Hypertension Due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Severe PH-COPD): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-associated pulmonary hypertension (PH-COPD) results in a significant impact on symptoms, quality of life, and survival. There is scant and conflicting evidence about the use of pulmonary hypertension (PH) specific therapy in patients with PH-COPD. PubMed, OVID, CINAHL, Cochrane, Embase, and Web of Science were searched using various MESH terms to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or observational studies investigating PH-specific therapies in patients with severe PH-COPD, defined by mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) of more than 35 mm Hg or pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) of more than 5 woods units on right heart catheterization.

Critical Care Ultrasound Competency of Fellows and Faculty in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine: A Nationwide Survey.

Competency assessment standards for Critical Care Ultrasonography (CCUS) for Graduate Medical Education (GME) trainees in pulmonary/critical care medicine (PCCM) fellowship programs are lacking. We sought to answer the following research questions: How are PCCM fellows and teaching faculty assessed for CCUS competency? Which CCUS teaching methods are perceived as most effective by program directors (PDs) and fellows. Cross-sectional, nationwide, electronic survey of PCCM PDs and fellows in accredited GME training programs.

Approach to the hospitalized patient with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Purpose Of Review: Hospitalization in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients is an important clinical worsening event significantly associated with subsequent mortality. Furthermore, irrespective of the cause of hospitalization, the overall outcome is closely related to the severity of the right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. Therefore, understanding the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension and RV failure is paramount in successfully managing PAH patients requiring hospitalization.

Contemporary outcomes of long-term anticoagulation in COVID-19 patients: a regression matched sensitivity analysis of the national inpatient sample.

Background: The role of oral anticoagulation during the COVID-19 pandemic has been debated widely. We studied the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 hospitalizations in patients who were on long-term anticoagulation.

Research Design And Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2020 was queried to identify COVID-19 patients with and without long-term anticoagulation.

COVID-19 Infection Is Associated With Increased In-Hospital Mortality and Complications in Patients With Acute Heart Failure: Insight From National Inpatient Sample (2020).

Patients with acute heart failure (AHF) exacerbation are susceptible to complications in the setting of COVID-19 infection. Data regarding the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in patients admitted with AHF is limited. We used the national inpatient sample database by utilizing ICD-10 codes to identify all hospitalizations with a diagnosis of AHF in 2020.

Point-of-care ultrasound in a pandemic: Practical guidance in COVID-19 units.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has stretched our healthcare system to the brink, highlighting the importance of efficient resource utilization without compromising healthcare provider safety. While advanced imaging is a great resource for diagnostic purposes, the risk of contamination and infection transmission is high and requires extensive logistical planning for intrahospital patient transport, healthcare provider safety, and post-imaging decontamination. This dilemma has necessitated the transition to more bedside imaging.

Advances in the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The management of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) has significantly evolved over the last decades in the wake of more sensitive diagnostics and specialized clinical programs that can provide focused medical care. In the current era of PAH care, 1-year survival rates have increased to 86%-90% from 65% in the 1980s, and average long-term survival has increased to 6 years from 2.8 years.

Respiratory Mechanics and Association With Inflammation in COVID-19-Related ARDS.

Background: The novel coronavirus-associated ARDS (COVID-19 ARDS) often requires invasive mechanical ventilation. A spectrum of atypical ARDS with different phenotypes (high vs low static compliance) has been hypothesized in COVID-19.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis to identify respiratory mechanics in COVID-19 ARDS.

Advanced management of intermediate-high risk pulmonary embolism.

This article is one of ten reviews selected from the Annual Update in Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine 2021. Other selected articles can be found online at https://www.biomedcentral.

Imaging algorithm for COVID-19: A practical approach.

The global pandemic of COVID-19 pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has strained healthcare resources across the world with emerging challenges of mass testing, resource allocation and management. While reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test is the most commonly utilized test and considered the current gold standard for diagnosis, the role of chest imaging has been highlighted by several studies demonstrating high sensitivity of computed tomography (CT). Many have suggested using CT chest as a first-line screening tool for the diagnosis of COVID-19.

Comparison of Clinical Measures Among Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) Patients with Usual Interstitial Pneumonia (UIP) Patterns on High-Resolution Computed Tomography.

Purpose: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is a progressive and fatal interstitial lung disease (ILD) characterized by a typical radiographic or histologic usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern. In 2018, diagnostic categories of UIP based on computed tomography patterns were revised by the Fleischner Society. The study aimed to describe differences in comorbidities and spirometry in ILD patients that were characterized by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) images as having a typical, probable, indeterminate, and alternative diagnosis of UIP.

Clinical Outcomes in Critically Ill Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients: A Unique New York City Public Hospital Experience.

Unlabelled: To explore demographics, comorbidities, transfers, and mortality in critically ill patients with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Data were collected from a large tertiary care public hospital ICU that is part of the largest public healthcare network in the United States.

Life-Threatening Hemoptysis.

Life-threatening hemoptysis (LTH) is any amount of hemoptysis that causes significant hemodynamic decompensation or respiratory distress which may lead to death if left untreated. While the amount of hemoptysis that qualifies as massive hemoptysis has continued to be debated, any amount between 100 to 1,000 mL/day is considered significant. Up to 15% cases of hemoptysis are LTH and need urgent life-saving intervention.

Spontaneous pneumothorax in a single lung transplant recipient-a blessing in disguise: A case report.

Background: End-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the common lung diseases referred for lung transplantation. According to the international society of heart and lung transplantation, 30% of all lung transplantations are carried out for COPD alone. When compared to bilateral lung transplant, single-lung transplant (SLT) has similar short-term and medium-term results for COPD.

Advances in Targeted Therapy for Progressive Fibrosing Interstitial Lung Disease.

Progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (PF-ILD) has been redefined as a new clinical syndrome that shares similar genetics, pathophysiology, and natural history to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). IPF is the most common form of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, which is progressive in nature and is associated with significant mortality. Therapies targeting an inflammatory and/or immune response have not been consistently effective or well tolerated in patients with IPF.

A review of endovascular stenting for superior vena cava syndrome in fibrosing mediastinitis.

Fibrosing mediastinitis (FM) is a rare disorder of inflammation and fibrosis involving the mediastinum. The formation of fibroinflammatory mass in the mediastinum can lead to obstruction of mediastinal structures and cause severe debilitating and life-threatening symptoms. Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is a dreaded complication of FM with no medical therapy proven to be efficacious.

A Blueprint for Success: Design and Implementation of an Ideal Bronchoscopy Suite.

Bronchoscopy is essential to the practice of pulmonary medicine. It is an important diagnostic and therapeutic tool for many disease processes. Bronchoscopy can be performed in a variety of clinical settings, from the bedside to an operating room.

Mysterious quad of constrictive pericarditis, recurrent pleural effusions, bone involvement and interstitial lung disease.

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare multisystemic non-Langerhans cell histiocytic neoplasm. The rarity of the disease and heterogenous clinical presentations often leads to delayed diagnosis. Historically, ECD lacked effective treatment and the prognosis was poor.