Home-based respiratory rehabilitation in adult patients with moderate or severe persistent asthma.

Objective: We assessed retrospectively the feasibility of a home-based respiratory rehabilitation (RR) program for asthmatics under optimal pharmacological treatment, as this type of care can reduce costs and offer a more patient-friendly approach for subjects with persistent asthma.

Methods: Fifty-two patients with persistent asthma were recruited to the RR program (20 males, 32 females, 54 ± 11 (SD) years, forced expiratory volume in one second 71 ± 33% of predicted mean value, BMI 29.9 ± 7.

Increased asymptomatic airway hyper-responsiveness in obese individuals.

Objective: Asymptomatic airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) represents a risk of further accelerated decline in lung function, and of asthma. Due to the fact that rare and contradictory results exist concerning the impact of obesity on BHR, we re-assessed the prevalence of bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR) in a large cohort of 60 lean, 84 overweight, and 360 class 1-3 obese non-asthmatic individuals, by coupled plethysmography and spirometry.

Methods: Baseline-specific airway conductance (SGaw) and spirometric values were measured and then a methacholine challenge testing (MCT) was performed and considered as positive when a ≥200% increase in specific airway resistance (SRaw = 1/SGaw) was reached.

How do COPD and healthy-lung patients tolerate the reduced volume ventilation strategy during OLV ventilation.

Background: Although a strategy of tidal volume (V(t)) reduction during the one-lung ventilation (OLV) period is advised in thoracic surgery, the influence of the pre-operative respiratory status on the tolerance of this strategy remains unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the pulmonary function between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and healthy-lung patients during the operative and the post-operative period.

Methods: Forty-eight patients undergoing a planned lobectomy for cancer and presenting either a healthy lung function (n=24) or a moderate COPD stage (n=24) were ventilated without external positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and received 9 ml/kg V(t) during the two-lung ventilation (TLV) period, secondary reduced to 6 ml/kg during the OLV period.

Reference equations for specific airway resistance in children: the Asthma UK initiative.

Plethysmographic specific airway resistance (sR(aw)) is a useful research method for discriminating lung disease in young children. Its use in clinical management has, however, been limited by lack of consensus regarding equipment, methodology and reference data. The aim of our study was to collate reference data from healthy children (3-10 yrs), document methodological differences, explore the impact of these differences and construct reference equations from the collated dataset.

A retrospective study of silicone stent placement for management of anastomotic airway complications in lung transplant recipients: short- and long-term outcomes.

Background: Airway anastomotic complications remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation (LT). Few data are available with regard to the use of silicone stents for these airway disorders. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of silicone stents for such an indication.