Purpose Of Review: Relieving dyspnoea when chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) no longer responds to disease-modifying therapy is challenging, with limited evidence to provide guidance. This review highlights recent advances that further our understanding and management of refractory dyspnoea in COPD, focusing on interventions that are considered beyond the conventional treatment of airflow obstruction/hyperinflation.
Recent Findings: Advances in functional brain imaging have improved our understanding of limbic system activation in dyspnoea, providing insight into potential for targeted treatments. Qualitative research is defining the complexities of the multidimensional aspects of dyspnoea, supporting the need to address dyspnoea-related affective distress in prospective outcomes-based research. Studies evaluating inhaled furosemide in exertional dyspnoea and palliative noninvasive ventilation in advanced disease support ongoing work in this area. In addition, recent advances in delivery of rapidly acting opioids offer intriguing potential for management of incidental dyspnoea in advanced disease.
Summary: Improved understanding of the nature of dyspnoea in advanced COPD, advances in symptom mapping and noninvasive ventilatory support along with the potential of novel treatments offer hope that we can improve the management of refractory dyspnoea in COPD. Where evidence is lacking, we outline options that merit further evaluation.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/SPC.0b013e328338c1c6 | DOI Listing |
Cureus
December 2024
Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Miyazaki Prefectural Miyazaki Hospital, Miyazaki, JPN.
Pleomorphic adenoma of the trachea is a rare benign tumor, often challenging to diagnose due to nonspecific symptoms. We report a case of a 72-year-old female with a 10-year history of presumed bronchial asthma, presenting with persistent dyspnea. Preoperative assessment for breast cancer surgery revealed severe obstructive ventilatory impairment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Integr Med
January 2025
School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China; International Acupuncture and Moxibustion Innovation Institute, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China. Electronic address:
Progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) is a progressive and lethal condition with few effective treatment options. Improvements in quality of life for patients with PPF remain limited even while receiving treatment with approved antifibrotic drugs. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has the potential to improve cough, dyspnea and fatigue symptoms of patients with PPF.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCureus
December 2024
Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, PRT.
Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is characterized by episodic vasospasm of the small blood vessels, primarily affecting the fingers and toes. Management includes lifestyle modifications, pharmacological treatments, and in severe cases, surgical interventions. Here we report a case of an 80-year-old male patient with a history of hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and atrial fibrillation who presented to the emergency department with edema, cyanosis, and intense pain in the fingers of both hands following a mild COVID-19 infection (no dyspnea or hypoxemia).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMedicine (Baltimore)
November 2024
Luoyang Research Center for Inheritance and Innovation of Chinese Historical Civilization, Luoyang Institute of Science and Technology School of Marxism (LIT), Luoyang City, Henan Province, China.
The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection in children and provide a basis for the diagnosis and treatment of MP and refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) in children. A total of 112 children with MPP admitted to Luoyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital between January 31, 2023 and December 31, 2023 were studied, and their clinical characteristics were retrospectively analyzed, including children's general data, clinical symptoms, imaging changes, bronchoscopy, and laboratory data, including inflammatory factors such as C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), bacterial culture results of bronchoalveolar lavage or sputum, and results of MP culture and detection of MP drug resistance gene loci 23sRNA A2063G and A2064G. Among the 112 children with MPP included in the analysis, 48 were males (42.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCureus
December 2024
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Fukuoka University Hospital, Fukuoka, JPN.
typically causes mild respiratory infections but can rarely lead to severe complications. We report a case of a 43-year-old immunocompetent male who presented with progressive dyspnea and respiratory failure with bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, refractory to outpatient treatment with azithromycin, ceftriaxone, and levofloxacin. Bronchoscopy revealed multiple white plaques in the trachea and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage.
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