BACKGROUND Oesophageal perforation is a condition associated with a high mortality. Its management is still controversial with operative treatment being favoured but a shift to conservative management is occurring. Very little exists in medical literature about its management in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the paucity of thoracic surgeons is compounded by limited diagnostic and therapeutic facili...

Abstract The aim of this study was to appraise and summarize the effects chest physiotherapy in mechanically ventilated children. A systematic review completed by searching Medline, Embase, Cinahl Plus, PEDro, Web Science from inception February 9, 2021. Studies investigating for children (0–18 years), a pediatric intensive care unit were included. Chest defined as any intervention performed qu...

A previously healthy woman aged 53 years presented with cough, night sweats and weakness. Chest roentgenogram revealed a reticulonodular infiltrate of the right upper lung. Multiple sputum cultures were positive for Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare, with no immunodeficiency disease. Fibreoptic endoscopy showed multiple tracheal cartilaginous knobs from a tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplast...

Background: Pulmonary complications following valvular heart surgery are common and contribute to increased duration of hospital stay, rate of morbidity, and mortality. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the response of maximum inspiratory pressure and functional capacity to Positive End-Expiratory Pressure device in patients who underwent valvular hea...

To the Editor: In their randomized controlled trial that evaluated the effects of inspiratory oxygen fractions on surgical site infection and postoperative pulmonary complications in obese patients undergoing laparotomy, Staehr et al. reported that administration of 80% oxygen compared with 30% oxygen during and for 2 h after surgery did not result in a significant difference in risk of postope...

Practice habits continue in clinical practice despite the availability of research and other forms of evidence that should be used to guide critical care practice interventions. This article is based on a presentation at the 2014 National Teaching Institute of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. The article is part of a series of articles that challenge critical care nurses to exa...

BACKGROUND Scoliosis is a complex three-dimensional (3D) spinal deformity. Acquired scoliosis in early childhood may progress into adulthood and pose an increased risk of health problems and reduction in quality of life. In Canada, patients with scoliosis are not referred for physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises (PSSE) despite the fact that Schroth physiotherapy, a scoliosis-specific ...