We wish to comment on the article "Efficacy of Breathing and Coughing Exercises in the Prevention of Pulmonary Complications After Coronary Artery Surgery" by Stiller et al published in March 1994 Chest.1 This remains an important issue for chest physiotherapy and, if the study's findings can be reproduced, could have widespread implications for cardiac surgical units. We believe, however, that...

OBJECTIVES To examine the efficacy of respiratory physiotherapy for prevention of pulmonary complications after abdominal surgery. METHODS We searched in databases and bibliographies for articles in all languages through November 2005. Randomized trials were included if they investigated prophylactic respiratory physiotherapy and pulmonary outcomes, and if the follow-up was at least 2 days. E...

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Noninvasive mechanical ventilation during the postoperative period (PO) following lung resection can restore residual functional capacity, improve oxygenation and spare the inspiratory muscles. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) associated with physiotherapy, compared with physiotherapy alone after lung rese...

INTRODUCTION Respiratory therapy is a keystone of the treatment for cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease, but it is time consuming. OBJECTIVES We aimed to assess the total time spent on respiratory therapy, including chest physiotherapy (CPT) and physical activity (PA), as well as inhalation therapy (IT) and maintenance of materials (MM) to rationalise and optimise treatment. METHODS A cross-s...

In this issue of RESPIRATORY CARE, Allan and colleagues report on the safety of high-frequency chest-wall compression (HFCWC, with The Vest, Hill-Rom, St Paul, Minnesota) in the 48 hours following thoracic surgery.1 The study is long overdue and is the first examination of the general safety and hemodynamic consequences of HFCWC in a patient population that may be predisposed to hemodynamic com...

In this issue of RESPIRATORY CARE, Allan and colleagues report on the safety of high-frequency chest-wall compression (HFCWC, with The Vest, Hill-Rom, St Paul, Minnesota) in the 48 hours following thoracic surgery.1 The study is long overdue and is the first examination of the general safety and hemodynamic consequences of HFCWC in a patient population that may be predisposed to hemodynamic com...

A 56-year-old man presented as an acute coronary syndrome. A transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) performed to assess left ventricular (LV) function revealed multiple hydatid cysts in the right ventricular cavity compressing the interventricular septum. CT scan for chest and abdomen revealed similar cysts in right-lung apex and left lobe of liver. A polyvisceral involvement in the setting of mu...

Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) has been extensively utilized in the treatment of severe hypoxemia from noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. The usefulness of therapy with PEEP in the management of lobar atelectasis has not been previously stressed. Recently, we observed four patients with lobar atelectasis who failed to respond to the usual conservative measures of endotracheal suctioning a...

(B-QIP) The specific aim of this project was to improve the care of children hospitalized with bronchiolitis by increasing compliance with the AAP clinical practice guideline, with the following pre-specified goals: 1) decrease the overall usage of bronchodilators by 50%; 2) decrease the overall usage of systemic corticosteroids by 50%; 3) decrease the overall usage of chest physiotherapy by 50...

Bronchiectasis is the abnormal, irreversible dilatation of diseased bronchi. Permanently dilated airways, usually in the medium-sized bronchi, are inflamed and often obstructed with thick, purulent secretions. Known causative factors include postinfection bronchial damage, postinhalation injury, hypersensitivity reactions, and congenital airway obstructive disorders. Typical symptoms include sp...