Detection of disturbances in pulmonary gas exchanges during exercise from arterialized earlobe PO2.

Blood sampling from the arterialized earlobe is widely used in clinical exercise testing but Fajac et al. (1998) (Eur. Respir.

Use of intensive care in patients with nonresectable lung cancer.

Background: Admission of patients with lung cancer to the ICU has been criticized. We evaluated whether ICU admission improved 3-month survival in patients with nonresectable lung cancer. Factors associated with survival were identified.

Wegener granulomatosis revealed by pleural effusion.

Pulmonary signs are common in Wegener's granulomatosis (WG). However, an initial presentation including pleural effusion has not been described. We describe a case of WG in which pleural effusion was the first clinical manifestation.

Computed tomography measurements for airway stent insertion in malignant airway obstruction.

Background: Metallic airway stents for malignant airway obstruction are considered safe, yet are not without complications. This study reviews the role of computed tomography (CT) airway measurements for planning stent placement in malignant airway obstruction before the actual therapeutic procedure to avoid invasive diagnostic evaluation before the stent placement and to reduce complications.

Methods: This study is a retrospective review of information from a stent order database and medical records of patients receiving stents for malignant airway obstruction at a university hospital over a 12-year period.

[Dyspnea and handicap in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: interaction of their mechanisms].

Today, dyspnea in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is attributed to thoracic distention secondary to bronchial obstruction and hyperventilation. It inevitably occurs during exercise, even in patients with little obstruction, when they are capable of the elevated and prolonged power output that necessitates substantial hyperventilation. Exercise intolerance is due mainly to dyspnea, but muscle fatigue is also involved, especially in COPD patients who are malnourished.

[Supplemental oxygen for dyspnea for cancer patients in end-of-life palliative care].

It is difficult to know which patients with dyspnea and terminal cancer will benefit most from supplemental oxygen. Supplemental oxygen treatment is cumbersome, can cause psychological dependence, impair the quality of life of the patient and family, and may even be dangerous for people with chronic respiratory insufficiency. It must therefore not be used routinely.