The Variable Clinical Presentation of Tuberculosis Otitis Media and the Importance of Early Detection.

Otol Neurotol. 2011 Apr 29;

Authors: Abes GT, Abes FL, Jamir JC

BACKGROUND:: Tuberculosis (TB) is a rare cause of otitis media. This study aims to increase awareness on the clinical presentation of TB otitis media and illustrate how early detection affects treatment outcome. METHODS:: Chart review of 12 patients (13 ears) from a tertiary hospital in Manila, Philippines, seen from 2004 to 2009. Clinical predictors of the disease were summarized. Clinical, radiologic, and audiometric outcomes after treatment were compared between treatment groups. RESULTS:: The 5 otoscopic presentations were multiple perforations, single perforation with refractory otorrhea and exuberant granulation tissue formation, single perforation with minimal otorrhea and no granulation tissue formation, intact tympanic membrane with middle ear effusion, and intact tympanic membrane with tumorlike tissue in the middle ear. Clinical predictors of the disease were history of pulmonary TB, work-related contamination of the infection, positive purified protein derivative test, positive chest radiographic finding and intraoperative granulation tissue with cheesy material, and temporal bone computed tomographic scan findings. Patients who had no middle ear surgery showed significantly better clinical, radiologic, and audiometric outcomes than those who were diagnosed late and had more complicated surgical procedure. CONCLUSION:: The clinical presentation of TB otitis media is variable. Early detection of the early forms entail less surgical intervention and favors better treatment results.

PMID: 21532520 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Airway Clearance in COPD: Need for a Breath of Fresh Air? A Systematic Review.

COPD. 2011 Apr 22;

Authors: Ides K, Vissers D, De Backer L, Leemans G, De Backer W

Background: Airway clearance is a key component of respiratory physiotherapy management for patients with excess secretions, including patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this review is to give an overview of the available evidence for the use of different airway clearance techniques (ACT) and their effects in patients with COPD. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed on CEBAM, PUBMED, Cochrane CT, Science Direct and Biomed central data bases. After screening, a total of 26 articles were included. Results: Studies that provide solid evidence of the effectiveness of different airway clearance techniques in patients with COPD are rather scarce. The available evidence indicates that active breathing techniques, such as active cycle of breathing techniques, autogenic drainage and forced expiration, can be effective in the treatment of COPD. The evidence for passive techniques such as postural drainage and percussion is low. Supporting techniques such as intrapulmonary percussive ventilation, positive expiratory pressure and non-invasive ventilation have little evidence because of the small number of studies. Little evidence is found for the combined use of active techniques and supporting techniques such as (oscillating) positive expiratory pressure, postural drainage and vibration in COPD patients. There is clearly a need for well-powered controlled clinical trials on the long-term effects of (combined) airway clearance techniques in COPD.

PMID: 21513439 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Non-invasive ventilation in pediatric status asthmaticus: A prospective observational study.

Pediatr Pulmonol. 2011 Apr 25;

Authors: Mayordomo-Colunga J, Medina A, Rey C, Concha A, Menéndez S, Arcos ML, Vivanco-Allende A

OBJECTIVE: Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) has been shown to be effective in different causes of respiratory failure in both adult and pediatric patients. However, its role in status asthmaticus (SA) remains unclear. We designed a prospective study to assess the feasibility of NIV in children with SA. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational study, over a 4.5-year period. PATIENT SELECTION: Children with SA unresponsive to conventional therapy with a modified Wood's clinical asthma score (m-WCAS) ≥4 and marked increased work of breathing, were included. METHODOLOGY: Patients were placed on pressure support NIV. During NIV therapy, salbutamol was nebulized continuously and ipratropium bromide every 2 hr; methyl-prednisolone was given at a dose of 1-2 mg/kg/6 hr. Clinical variables were measured at baseline and at 1, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hr. RESULTS: During the study period, there were 122 PICU admissions due to SA; 72 episodes fulfilled inclusion criteria. Baseline mean values were as follows: m-WCAS of 5.7 points, heart rate (HR) of 166.7 beats/min, respiratory rate (RR) of 49.5 breaths/min and FiO(2) of 45.3%. In the first hour m-WCAS fell 2.3 ± 1.5 points, HR 13.5 ± 14 beats/min, and RR 9.8 ± 10 breaths/min (P < 0.01). After institution of NIV therapy, 5 children required intubation due to increasing respiratory distress. There was one case of massive subcutaneous emphysema, with no other serious adverse effects associated with NIV. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that NIV is a feasible therapy in children with SA unresponsive to conventional treatment. Pediatr. Pulmonol. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

PMID: 21520437 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Non-invasive ventilation: established and expanding roles.

Clin Med. 2011 Apr;11(2):150-3

Authors: Elliott MW

Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) has become the standard of care for most patients with ventilatory failure due to an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In all but a small minority, even of the very sickest, there is little to be lost by at least a short trial of NIV. In patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, NIV results in a more rapid physiological improvement and resolution of dyspnoea, but the benefits in terms of survival have been called into question by two recent randomised controlled trials. There are no randomised controlled trials of NIV in patients with acute ventilatory failure due to obesity but the outcome from invasive ventilation is poor and the results of NIV encouraging. Finally, NIV may have a role during the transition from active care, aimed to extend life, to palliative care.

PMID: 21526697 [PubMed - in process]