The difficult-to-control asthma can be defined as that which is inadequately or poorly controlled despite an appropriate therapeutic strategy that is adjusted to clinical severity.
Continue reading “Diagnostic Criteria for Difficult-to-Control Asthma”
The BODE is a multidimensional index designed to assess clinical risk in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It combines four important variables into a single score: (B) body mass index; (O) airflow obstruction measured by the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1); (D) dyspnoea measured by the modified Medical Research Council (MRC) scale; and (E) exercise capacity measured by the 6-minute walk distance (6MWD). Each component is graded and a score out of 10 is obtained, with higher scores indicating greater risk. The BODE index reflects the impact of both pulmonary and extrapulmonary factors on prognosis and survival in COPD.
Continue reading “Scoring the BODE Index”
The American Thoracic Society Pulmonary Function Standards Committee developed guidelines for the 6MWT in clinical settings. The 6MWT was chosen because it is easier to administer, better tolerated, and better reflects activities of daily living than other walk tests.
Continue reading “Indications for the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT)”
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is defined as repeated episodes of obstructive apneas and hypopneas during sleep, frequently followed by transient hemoglobin desaturation (hypoxemia) and unconscious (EEG) arousals.
Continue reading “Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in Adults and Children”
In current hospital practice chest drains are used in many different clinical settings and doctors in most specialities need to be capable of their safe insertion. Continue reading “Indications and Contraindications for Tube Thoracostomy”
CURB and CRB-65 scores can be used in the hospital and out-patients setting to assess pneumonia severity and the risk of death.
Continue reading “CURB-65 and CRB-65 Severity Scores for Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP)”
The hepatopulmonary syndrome is characterized as the triad of liver disease, pulmonary gas exchange abnormalities leading to arterial deoxygenation and evidence of intrapulmonary vascular dilatations.
Continue reading “Diagnostic Criteria for the Hepatopulmonary Syndrome (HPS)”
Idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) are part of a broad, heterogeneous group of interstitial lung diseases that encompasses more than 200 acute or chronic diseases with varying degrees of inflammation or fibrosis. Continue reading “ATS/ERS Criteria for Diagnosis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)”
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a syndrome of inflammation and increased permeability associated with a constellation of clinical, radiologic, and physiologic abnormalities unexplained by elevations in left atrial or pulmonary capillary pressure.
Continue reading “Diagnostic Criteria for Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)”
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