Peritoneal free autologous fat graft for the control of pulmonary air leaks in emphysematous rat lungs.

Background: Persistent pulmonary air leak is the most frequent complication after lung resection, resulting in an increase in postoperative morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the viability, integration, and efficacy of a free peritoneal fat graft as a method for controlling air leak in normal and emphysematous rat lungs.

Methods: Sixty Wistar rats were divided into two groups: elastase-produced lung emphysema (n=30) and control (normal) lungs (n=30).

Interobserver agreement between radiologists and radiology residents and emergency physicians in the detection of PE using CTPA.

Objective: To assess interobserver agreement between thoracic radiologists, radiology residents, and emergency physicians in diagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE).

Materials And Methods: Emergency physicians, radiology residents, and thoracic radiologists evaluated 123 computed tomography pulmonary angiography images. Interobserver agreement was analysed using kappa statistics.

Prognostic factors in lung transplantation: the Santa Casa de Porto Alegre experience.

Background: Lung transplantation (LT) has been established as a current therapy for selected patients with end-stage lung disease. Different prognostic factors have been reported by transplant centers. The objective of this study is to report our recent results with LT and to search for prognostic factors.

Reconstruction algorithms influence the follow-up variability in the longitudinal CT emphysema index measurements.

Objective: We wanted to compare the variability in the longitudinal emphysema index (EI) measurements that were computed with standard and high resolution (HR) reconstruction algorithms (RAs).

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 475 patients who underwent CT for surveillance of lung nodules. From this cohort, 50 patients (28 male) were included in the study.

Clubbed fingers: radiological evaluation of the nail bed thickness.

It is established that there is an increase in soft tissue of the clubbed digits as demonstrated on previous histopathological examinations. In the present study, the nail bed thickness was assessed and measured on plain radiographs of index fingers in two groups of patients: one group with lung disease and fingers clubbing and one group of normal controls. A vertical x-ray beam was used with a focus-film distance of 1.

A comparison between ventilation modes: how does activity level affect energy expenditure estimates?

Background: An appropriate diet is essential to avoid complications of overfeeding or underfeeding in mechanically ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The paucity of consistent comparative data on energy expenditure for each ventilation mode complicates diet prescription. This study evaluates caloric requirements by comparing estimated and measured energy expenditure values for 2 ventilation modes.