An algorithmic approach to chronic dyspnea.

Question: The objective of the study was to prospectively evaluate an algorithmic approach to the cause(s) of chronic dyspnea. MATERIALS/PATIENTS/METHODS: Prospective observational study. The study group consisted of 123 patients with a chief complaint of dyspnea of unknown cause present for >8 weeks.

Clinical approach to acute cough.

Acute cough is among the most common symptoms for which patients seek medical attention. It accounts for millions of days lost from school and work and billions of dollars spent on medical care. Acute cough is defined as cough present for 3 weeks or less.

Music improves patient comfort level during outpatient bronchoscopy.

Study Objective: To determine the effect of music during bronchoscopy on patient perception of the procedure.

Design: Prospective randomized trial.

Setting: University-based bronchoscopy suite.

Heliox therapy in acute severe asthma.

Study Objective: To assess how patients with respiratory acidosis from acute severe asthma respond to helium-oxygen (heliox) mixtures.

Design: Consecutive case series.

Setting: Urban community teaching hospital.

Malignant thymoma. A complicated triad of SVC syndrome, cardiac tamponade, and DIC.

A patient presented with multisystem disease due to a very aggressive malignant thymoma. The case was complicated by the triad of cardiac tamponade, superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). A review of the English literature reveals this to be a unique constellation of clinical symptoms and that DIC was heretofore unreported.