Validation of the Dutch cystic fibrosis questionnaire (CFQ) in adolescents and adults.

Background: This study assesses the reliability and validity of the Dutch version of a disease-specific measure of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for adolescents and adults with CF (CFQ-14+). The 47-item CFQ-14+ covers nine domains, three symptom scales and one health perception scale.

Methods: To assess psychometric characteristics of the CFQ-14+, cross-sectional (homogeneity, discriminative and construct validity) and test-retest designs were used.

The effect of a forearm/hand splint compared with an elbow band as a treatment for lateral epicondylitis.

The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of a new prefabricated Thämert forearm/hand splint with the effect of a simple elbow band as a treatment for lateral epicondylitis. Forty-three (43) patients that met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to the elbow band group and the splint group. They wore the orthotic devices for 6 weeks.

Physical functioning and quality of life after cancer rehabilitation.

In order to overcome cancer-related problems and to improve quality of life, an intensive multi-focus rehabilitation programme for cancer patients was developed. We hypothesised that this six-week intensive rehabilitation programme would result in physiological improvements and improvement in quality of life. Thirty-four patients with cancer-related physical and psychosocial problems were the subjects of a prospective observational study.

Positive expiratory pressure physiotherapy for airway clearance in people with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Chest physiotherapy is widely prescribed to assist the clearance of airway secretions in people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Positive expiratory pressure (PEP) devices provide constant back pressure to the airways during expiration. This may improve clearance by building up gas behind mucus via collateral ventilation.

Fear of exercise and health-related quality of life in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Several studies have reported improved survival rates thanks to the use of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in the treatment of patients with life-threatening arrhythmia. However, the effects of the ICD on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) of these patients are not clear. The aim of this study is to describe HR-QoL and fear of exercise in ICD patients.

Risk perception of developing complex regional pain syndrome I.

This study investigated how members of a hand team perceive clinical signs after a fracture of the distal radius. The risk of developing complex regional pain syndrome I (CRPS-I) was assessed on a 100-mm straight line based on clinical signs 5 weeks, 7 weeks and 10 weeks after the accident. Members of the hand team perceived clinical signs significantly differently.

Endotracheal suctioning versus minimally invasive airway suctioning in intubated patients: a prospective randomised controlled trial.

Study Objective: Endotracheal suctioning in intubated patients is routinely applied in most ICUs but may have negative side effects. We hypothesised that on-demand minimally invasive suctioning would have fewer side effects than routine deep endotracheal suctioning, and would be comparable in duration of intubation, length of stay in the ICU, and ICU mortality.

Design: Randomised prospective clinical trial.

Patient recollection of airway suctioning in the ICU: routine versus a minimally invasive procedure.

Objective: Many patients have an unpleasant recollection of routine endotracheal suctioning after discharge from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). We hypothesized that through minimally invasive airway suctioning discomfort and stress may be prevented, resulting in less recollection.

Design: A prospective randomized clinical trial.

Phantom pain and risk factors: a multivariate analysis.

Phantom pain has been given considerable attention in literature. Phantom pain reduces quality of life, and patients suffering from phantom pain make heavy use of the medical system. Many risk factors have been identified for phantom pain in univariate analyses, including phantom sensations, stump pain, pain prior to the amputation, cause of amputation, prosthesis use, and years elapsed since amputation.

Phantom pain and health-related quality of life in lower limb amputees.

Amputation of a limb may affect quality of life. However, little is known concerning health-related quality of life in amputees. The purposes of this study were to describe health-related quality of life in a population of lower limb amputees and to investigate potential determinants, including phantom pain.

Airway clearance: assessment of techniques.

Mucus hypersecretion and retention of mucus are common in patients with pulmonary disease. In order to reduce mucus retention, airway clearance techniques are used. The most commonly used outcome parameter in clinical situations--pulmonary function testing--is probably not very useful.

Inspiratory muscle training in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Little information is available about the effects of inspiratory muscle training in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). In this study the effects of inspiratory-threshold loading in patients with CF on strength and endurance of the inspiratory muscles, pulmonary function, exercise capacity, dyspnoea and fatigue were evaluated. Sixteen patients were assigned to one of two groups using the minimization method: eight patients in the training group and eight patients in the control group.

Efficacy of coughing in tetraplegic patients.

Study Design: A randomized cross-over design study in six tetraplegic patients.

Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of coughing in tetraplegic patients.

Summary Of Background Data: In tetraplegic patients, pulmonary complications due to insufficient clearance of bronchial mucus frequently are described.

Phantom pain and phantom sensations in upper limb amputees: an epidemiological study.

Phantom pain in subjects with an amputated limb is a well-known problem. However, estimates of the prevalence of phantom pain differ considerably in the literature. Various factors associated with phantom pain have been described including pain before the amputation, gender, dominance, and time elapsed since the amputation.

Chest physiotherapy compared to no chest physiotherapy for cystic fibrosis.

Background: Chest physiotherapy is widely used in patients with cystic fibrosis in order to clear mucus from the airways.

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness and acceptability of chest physiotherapy compared to no treatment or spontaneous cough alone to improve mucus clearance in cystic fibrosis.

Search Strategy: Relevant trials are identified in the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group Specialised Register of Controlled Trials.

Physiotherapy and bronchial mucus transport.

Cough and expectoration of mucus are the best-known symptoms in patients with pulmonary disease. The most applied intervention for these symptoms is the use of chest physiotherapy to increase bronchial mucus transport and reduce retention of mucus in the airways. Chest physiotherapy interventions can be evaluated using different outcome variables, such as bronchial mucus transport measurement, measurement of the amount of expectorated mucus, pulmonary function, medication use, frequency of exacerbation and quality of life.

The effects of spinal cord stimulation on quality of life in patients with therapeutically chronic refractory angina pectoris.

Objective. For patients with refractory angina pectoris, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a beneficial and safe adjuvant therapy. However, it has not yet been established whether SCS alters the quality of life (QoL) in these patients.

Perception of fatigue and quality of life in patients with COPD.

Introduction: Although dyspnea is considered the primary activity-limiting symptom in patients with COPD, other symptoms, such as fatigue, are frequently reported. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between fatigue and pulmonary function, exercise tolerance, depression, and quality of life in patients with COPD.

Methods: Forty-one patients (age = 62+/-8 years; FEV1 = 1.

Relationship between subjective fatigue and physiological variables in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Patients with chronic illnesses, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), report an increase in the perception of fatigue in the clinical setting. Subjective fatigue associated with physiological factors has not been reported. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between subjective fatigue and pulmonary function, respiratory and peripheral muscle force and exercise capacity in patients with COPD.

Forced expiratory manoeuvres to increase transport of bronchial mucus: a mechanistic approach.

Mucus hypersecretion and impaired mucus clearance are well-known symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis. These symptoms should not be considered as innocent but they deserve treatment. A well known therapy to improve mucus transport is chest physiotherapy.

Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Unlabelled: To determine the feasibility and the effectiveness of minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass without cardiopulmonary bypass (MICABG) in patients with left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery disease, we evaluated 90 consecutive patients who underwent MICABG at the University Hospital of Groningen.

Patients: Between January 1995 and December 1996, 50 patients (mean age 60 +/- 10.3 years) with documented myocardial ischemia and isolated stenosis of the LAD were selected for MICABG.

Quality of life in patients with cystic fibrosis.

The majority of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) will grow into adulthood. Despite this improvement in survival, the disease is progressive, especially with respect to the decline in pulmonary function, which in turn may have an impact on a patient's quality of life. In this study we evaluated the quality of life in CF adults and examined the relationship between quality of life and pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and dyspnea.

Respiratory muscle activity and pulmonary function during acutely induced airways obstruction.

Background: Patients with airway obstruction may spontaneously breathe with a positive expiratory pressure by pursing their lips during expiration, especially in case of dyspnea. Dyspnea seems to be related to increased activity of the respiratory muscles. A potential explanation for the use of pursed lips breathing (PLB) is that this type of breathing leads to a reduction of respiratory muscle activity.

Relationship between dyspnoea, pulmonary function and exercise capacity in patients with cystic fibrosis.

The median age of survival in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) has improved considerably. Despite this improvement, deterioration of pulmonary function and decrease in exercise capacity are still the main problems for many patients. Although dyspnoea is a common complaint in CF patients, relatively little regard has been paid to this symptom.