Pleural effusion following ovarian hyperstimulation.

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is an iatrogenic complication that occurs in the luteal phase of an induced hormonal cycle. In most cases, the symptoms are self-limited and spontaneous regression occurs. However, severe cases are typically accompanied by acute respiratory distress.

Giant multilocular thymic cyst in an HIV-infected adolescent.

A girl with vertically acquired HIV infection presented with a 6-month history of dyspnea and chest pain. Computed tomography of the thorax showed a heterogenous mass measuring 13 × 9 × 17 cm located in the anterior mediastinum. Complete surgical resection was accomplished with no complications.

Pathological and ultrastructural analysis of surgical lung biopsies in patients with swine-origin influenza type A/H1N1 and acute respiratory failure.

Background: Cases of H1N1 and other pulmonary infections evolve to acute respiratory failure and death when co-infections or lung injury predominate over the immune response, thus requiring early diagnosis to improve treatment.

Objective: To perform a detailed histopathological analysis of the open lung biopsy specimens from five patients with ARDS with confirmed H1N1.

Methods: Lung specimens underwent microbiologic analysis, and examination by optical and electron microscopy.

[Maintenance status of N95 respirator masks after use in a health care setting].

With the purpose of assessing the damages to N95 respirator masks over time and to estimate their expiration after use in clinical practice, this study was based on the descriptive analysis of N95 cone-shaped masks collected by nursing assistants after one, five, 15, and 30 consecutive days of use. Personal identification marks were founds in every respirator already on the first day of use. From the fifth day onward, all masks presented some type of dirt while folds were observed in more than 80% of the devices.

[Laboratory identification of mycobacteria in respiratory samples from HIV-positive patients suspected of tuberculosis].

The records (2000 to 2004) of the Microbiology Laboratory of the Adolfo Lutz Institute in Santos, Brazil, were retrospectively analyzed regarding patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and suspected of pulmonary tuberculosis. 1,321 samples for diagnosis purposes were selected, corresponding to 880 suspected tuberculosis cases in 693 patients. There were 134 smear-positive samples and mycobacteria growth occurred in 188 cultures, corresponding to 161 confirmed cases.

[Pneumothorax after acupuncture: clinical presentation and management].

Introduction: Pneumothorax is a rare but dangerous complication of acupuncture. Because of its rarity, there are few reports in literature and, therefore little information regarding clinical and therapeutic aspects. This article aims to analyze the clinical presentation, management and follow-up of patients with pneumothorax after acupuncture.

Open bedside tracheostomy: routine procedure for patients under prolonged mechanical ventilation.

Background: Tracheostomy is electively performed in critically ill patients requiring prolonged respiratory support. The risk of transporting, the increasing associated cost and operative room schedule are some of the obstacles for wider acceptance of this procedure. The use of rigid selection criteria exclude many patients who would benefit of this approach.