Respiratory Specialist Visits Before Admissions with COPD Exacerbation are Linked to Improved Management and Outcomes.

Purpose: Exacerbations of COPD (ECOPD) significantly impact disease progression and mortality. Visiting a respiratory specialist (RS) in proximity to the exacerbation may lead to prompt treatment and improved outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the association between an RS visit 30-days before admission and exacerbation outcomes.

Pulmonary Manifestations of IBD: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

This article explores the pulmonary complications associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It presents a detailed case study of a 22-year-old male with Crohn's disease exhibiting pulmonary symptoms. The review delves into the spectrum of pulmonary involvement in IBD, covering clinical presentations, diagnostic challenges, underlying pathophysiology, and management strategies.

Effect of Added Inhaled Corticosteroids to Systemic Steroids on COPD Exacerbation Outcomes.

Background: COPD exacerbations are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Although inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) have a role as long-term treatment, their efficacy in exacerbations, particularly as an adjunct to systemic steroids, remains unclear.

Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we analyzed data from 870 subjects admitted with COPD exacerbations to a tertiary medical center in Israel from January 2018-January 2023.

Routine in-hospital interventions during acute exacerbation of COPD are associated with improved 30-day care.

Background: Implementing standard of care therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has barriers. Hospitalization with an acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) is a major adverse event that could also be an opportunity to improve patients' long-term care.

Objectives: To evaluate which in-hospital interventions during AECOPD are associated with improved 30-day care.

Asymptomatic Dysphagia and Aspiration in Patients with Idiopathic Bronchiectasis.

Purpose: Although considered contributors to idiopathic bronchiectasis (IB), neither dysphagia nor silent aspiration have been systematically evaluated in IB patients. We aimed to explore the prevalence of asymptomatic dysphagia and silent aspiration in IB patients and to identify parameters predictive of their presence.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included IB patients from our Pulmonary Institute without prior history of dysphagia and without prior dysphagia workup.

The Added Value of Bronchoalveolar Lavage for Pulmonary Tuberculosis Diagnosis in High-Risk Hospitalized Patients with Negative Sputum Samples.

Hospitalized patients with a high suspicion of pulmonary tuberculosis (HS-PTB) are isolated until a definite diagnosis can be determined. If doubt remains after negative sputum samples, bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is often sought. Still, evidence of the added value of BAL in this patient population is scarce.

Impulse Oscillometry as an Alternative Lung Function Test for Hospitalized Adults.

Background: Impulse oscillometry (IOS) is a noninvasive technique that measures lung physiology independently of patient effort. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the utility of IOS parameters in comparison with pulmonary function testing (PFT) among hospitalized subjects, with emphasis on obstructive and small airway diseases.

Methods: Sixty-one subjects hospitalized either with unexplained dyspnea or for pre-surgery evaluation were included in the study.

Real-Life Diagnostic Performance of the Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Guidelines: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is a heterogeneous interstitial lung disease (ILD) that may be difficult to confidently diagnose. Recently, the 2020 ATS/JRS/ALAT HP diagnostic guidelines were published, yet data validating their performance in real-life settings are scarce. We aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of the HP guidelines compared to the gold-standard multidisciplinary discussion (MDD).

Importance of physician history taking in complementing patient-reported interstitial lung disease questionnaire.

Background: Patient-reported interstitial lung disease (ILD) questionnaires are commonly used for the evaluation of ILD patients. However, research to test their performance is scarce.

Methods: This study aimed to assess the performance of the Chest Questionnaire in consecutive ILD patients presenting to a tertiary ILD center.

Urinary retention in diabetic older adults: mortality associated with a urinary catheter inserted during hospitalization but not removed.

Purpose: We have studied, in diabetic older adults with urinary retention (UR), whether a urinary catheter (UC) inserted during hospitalization but not removed is associated with 1-year mortality.

Methods: A retrospective study included 327 consecutive older adults (age ≥ 65 years; median age 83 years; 57.8% males) with UR in whom a UC was inserted during hospitalization: 139 (42.

Fiberoptic Bronchoscopic Submucosal Injection of Mitomycin C for Recurrent Bening Tracheal Stenosis: A Case Series.

Background: Benign tracheal stenosis has emerged as a therapeutic challenge for physicians involved in the care of survivors of critical care units. Although the traditional mainstay of open surgical reconstructive treatment is still considered the gold standard, endoscopic therapies such as laser re-canalization, balloon dilation, or stenting are commonly practiced in invasive bronchology. Recurrent obstructing granulomas pose a challenge for bronchoscopists.