Correlation between the severity of critically ill patients and clinical predictors of bronchial aspiration / Correlação entre a gravidade de pacientes críticos e preditores clínicos de risco para a broncoaspiração

Objective: To determine whether the severity of non-neurological critically ill patients correlates with clinical predictors of bronchial aspiration. Methods: We evaluated adults undergoing prolonged orotracheal intubation (> 48 h) and bedside swallowing assessment within the first 48 h after extubation. We collected data regarding the risk of bronchial aspiration performed by a speech-language pathologist, whereas data regarding the functional level of swallowing were collected with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Outcome Measurement System (ASHA NOMS) scale and those regarding health status were collected with the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA). Results: The study sample comprised 150 patients. For statistical analyses, the patients were grouped by ASHA NOMS score: ASHA1 (levels 1 and 2), ASHA2 (levels 3 to 5); and ASHA3 (levels 6 and 7). In comparison with the other patients, those in the ASHA3 group were significantly younger, remained intubated for fewer days, and less severe overall clinical health status (SOFA score). The clinical predictors of bronchial aspiration that best characterized the groups were abnormal cervical auscultation findings and cough after swallowing. None of the patients in the ASHA 3 group presented with either of those signs. Conclusions: Critically ill patients 55 years of age or older who undergo prolonged orotracheal intubation (≥ 6 days), have a SOFA score ≥ 5, have a Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤ 14, and present with abnormal cervical auscultation findings or cough after swallowing should be prioritized for a full speech pathology assessment.

Objetivo: Correlacionar a gravidade de pacientes críticos não neurológicos com preditores clínicos do risco de broncoaspiração. Métodos: Participaram do estudo adultos com histórico de intubação orotraqueal prolongada (> 48 h) e submetidos à avaliação da deglutição à beira do leito nas primeiras 48 h após a extubação. Dados relacionados a avaliação fonoaudiológica clínica do risco de aspiração broncopulmonar, nível funcional da deglutição por meio da escala American Speech-Language-Hearing Association National Outcome Measurement System (ASHA NOMS) e status de saúde pelo Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) foram coletados. Resultados: A amostra do estudo foi composta por 150 pacientes. Para fins da análise estatística, os pacientes foram agrupados com base nos escores ASHA NOMS: ASHA1 (níveis 1-2), ASHA2 (níveis 3-5) e ASHA3 (níveis 6-7). Os indivíduos no grupo ASHA3 eram significativamente mais jovens, permaneceram intubados por menos tempo e apresentaram menor gravidade de quadro clínico geral (escore SOFA) do que os indivíduos nos demais grupos. Os preditores clínicos de broncoaspiração que melhor caracterizaram os grupos foram achados de ausculta cervical alterada e presença de tosse após a deglutição. O grupo ASHA3 não apresentou esses sinais. Conclusões: Pacientes críticos com idade ≥ 55 anos, período de intubação ≥ 6 dias, gravidade de quadro clínico geral (escore SOFA ≥ 5), escore na Escala de Coma de Glasgow ≤ 14, ausculta cervical alterada e tosse após a deglutição devem ser priorizados para a avaliação fonoaudiológica completa.

Late complication of a renal calculus: fistulisation to the psoas muscle, skin and bronchi

ABSTRACTKidney disease presenting with cutaneous fistula is a rare condition. We present a case of a 90-year-old woman with dementia who had no prior urological problems and had a cutaneous fistula in the left lumbar region. A fistulogram and computer tomography examination revealed a large staghorn calculus with signs of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in the left kidney and renal fistulisation to the psoas muscle, skin and bronchi. To our knowledge this is the first report in the literature of coexisting renal fistulisation to the psoas major muscle, skin and bronchi. This report illustrates how computed tomography in combination with fistulography can resolve the diagnostic dilemma that pertains to the complex spread of the disease in cases involving nephrocutaneous fistula. Furthermore, the report shows how a renal calculus, even asymptomatic, can cause a serious medical condition, and highlights the importance of early medical intervention.

Diferencias tomográficas y funcionales entre la EPOC severa relacionada con humo de leña y con cigarrillo: comparison between the wood smoke-related and smoking-related disease / Tomographic and functional findings in severe COPD

OBJETIVO: La exposición a humo de leña es factor de riesgo para EPOC. A diferencia de la EPOC por cigarrillo (EPOC-C), para un mismo nivel de obstrucción, en la EPOC por leña (EPOC-L), la DLCO está menos disminuida, sugiriendo menos enfisema. Por tanto, el objetivo de este estudio fue comparar los hallazgos en la TCAR en mujeres con EPOC-L y con EPOC- C. MÉTODOS: Veintidós mujeres con EPOC severa (VEF1/CVF < 70% y VEF1 < 50%) fueron divididas en dos grupos: las expuestas a leña (EPOC-L; n = 12) y las expuestas a cigarrillo (EPOC-C; n = 10). Se compararon los dos grupos con respecto al puntaje de enfisema y el compromiso de la vía aérea en la TCAR, las anormalidades funcionales en la espirometría, la DLCO, los volúmenes pulmonares y la resistencia específica de la vía aérea (sRaw). RESULTADOS: Los dos grupos tuvieron VEF1, sRaw e hiperinflación pulmonar similares. En el grupo EPOC-C, hubo mayor disminución de la DLCO y de la DLCO/VA y mayor puntaje de enfisema. En el grupo EPOC-L, no encontramos enfisema significativo en la TCAR. Los hallazgos principales fueron engrosamiento peribronquial, dilataciones bronquiales y atelectasias subsegmentarias. CONCLUSIONES: En pacientes con EPOC-L severa no hay enfisema en la TCAR. El hallazgo más importante es el compromiso severo de la vía aérea. La disminución de la DLCO y del VA con DLCO/VA normal es probablemente determinada por la obstrucción bronquial severa y la mezcla incompleta del gas inspirado en la maniobra de la respiración única de la prueba de difusión.

OBJECTIVE: Wood smoke exposure is a risk factor for COPD. For a given degree of airway obstruction, the reduction in DLCO is smaller in individuals with wood smoke-related COPD than in those with smoking-related COPD, suggesting that there is less emphysema in the former. The objective of this study was to compare HRCT findings between women with wood smoke-related COPD and women with smoking-related COPD. METHODS: Twenty-two women with severe COPD (FEV1/FVC ratio < 70% and FEV1 < 50%) were divided into two groups: those with wood smoke-related COPD (n = 12) and those with smoking-related COPD (n = 10). The two groups were compared regarding emphysema scores and airway involvement (as determined by HRCT); and functional abnormalities-spirometry results, DLCO, alveolar volume (VA), the DLCO/VA ratio, lung volumes, and specific airway resistance (sRaw). Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of FEV1, sRaw, or lung hyperinflation. Decreases in DLCO and in the DLCO/VA ratio were greater in the smoking-related COPD group subjects, who also had higher emphysema scores, in comparison with the wood smoke-related COPD group subjects. In the wood smoke-related COPD group, HRCT scans howed no significant emphysema, the main findings being peribronchial thickening, bronchial dilation, and subsegmental atelectasis. CONCLUSIONS: Female patients with severe wood smoke-related COPD do not appear to develop emphysema, although they do show severe airway involvement. The reduction in DLCO and VA, with a normal DLCO/VA ratio, is probably due to severe bronchial obstruction and incomplete mixing of inspired gas during the determination of single-breath DLCO.

Traqueobroncopatía osteocondroplástica: presentación simulando asma / Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica. Clinical presentation mimicking asthma

La traqueobroncopatía osteocondroplástica (TO) (o traqueopatía osteocondroplástica otraqueopatía osteoplástica)1 es una entidad rara de etiopatogenia desconocida caracterizada por múltiples nódulos de cartílago o hueso originados en el tejido cartilaginoso de la vía aérea, que se proyectan dentro de la luz traqueobronquial. Generalmente decurso crónico y benigno, es casi siempre un hallazgo; cuando presenta síntomas estos son inespecíficos y se deben al estrechamiento de la vía aérea, al engrosamiento de la pared traqueobronquial, o a alguna complicación. Al ser poco reconocida favorece los errores diagnósticos. Reportamos un caso sintomático de TO, confundida con asma, que además presentaba rinosinusitis crónica e infecciones recurrentes de la vía aérea alta y baja. Además de presentar este caso con gran afectación y progresión hasta bronquios distales, mostramos otros 2 presuntos casos sin confirmación endoscópica.

The tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) is a rare disease of unknown pathogenesis. It is characterized by multiple osteocartilaginous nodules protrudinginto the tracheobronchial airway lumen. Generally it is an incidental finding because its evolution is chronic and benign; when symptoms are present, they are non specific and result from the obstruction of the airway, the thickening of the tracheobronchial wall or some complication. Since it is an uncommon condition the diagnostic errors arefrequent. We report a symptomatic TO case, that was misdiagnosed as asthma, and in addition the patient had chronic sinusitis and recurrent upper and lower respiratory tract infections. This case had progressive invasion of distal bronchi. We also report two other suspected cases without endoscopic confirmation.

Comprometimento da árvore respiratória na granulomatose de Wegener / Laryngeal and tracheobronchial involvement in Wegener's granulomatosis

INTRODUÇÃO: A granulomatose de Wegener (GW) é uma forma de vasculite sistêmica que envolve primariamente as vias aéreas superiores e inferiores e os rins. As manifestações mais frequentes nas vias aéreas são estenose subglótica e inflamações, estenoses da traqueia e dos brônquios. A visualização endoscópica das vias aéreas é a melhor ferramenta para avaliação, diagnóstico e manejo dessas alterações. OBJETIVOS: Descrever as alterações endoscópicas encontradas na mucosa das vias aéreas de um grupo de pacientes com GW submetido à broncoscopia no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP) e relatar as intervenções terapêuticas broncoscópicas utilizadas em alguns casos. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 15 pacientes com diagnóstico de GW provenientes do Ambulatório de Vasculites da Disciplina de Pneumologia do HC-FMUSP, encaminhados para a realização de broncoscopia no serviço de Endoscopia Respiratória do HC-FMUSP no período de 2003 a 2007. RESULTADOS: Dos 15 pacientes avaliados, 11 eram mulheres (73,33 por cento) com idade média de 34 ± 11,5 anos. Foram encontradas alterações das vias aéreas em 80 por cento dos pacientes, e o achado endoscópico mais frequente foi estenose subglótica (n = 6). Realizou-se broncoscopia terapêutica em três pacientes com estenose subglótica e em outros três com estenose brônquica, todos apresentando bons resultados. CONCLUSÃO: A broncoscopia permite diagnóstico, acompanhamento e tratamento das lesões de vias aéreas na GW, constituindo-se um recurso terapêutico pouco invasivo em casos selecionados.

INTRODUCTION: Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a form of systemic vasculitis that involves primarily the upper and lower airways and the kidneys. The most frequent airway manifestations include subglottic stenosis and inflammation, and tracheal and bronchial stenoses. The endoscopic visualization of the airways is the best tool for assessing, diagnosing and managing those changes. OBJECTIVES: To describe the endoscopic abnormalities found in the airway mucosa of a group of patients with WG undergoing bronchoscopy at Hospital das Clínicas of the Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP), and to report the therapeutic bronchoscopic interventions used in some cases. METHODS: The study assessed 15 patients diagnosed with GW from the Vasculitis Outpatient Clinic of the Department of Pulmonology, HC-FMUSP, referred for bronchoscopy at the Service of Respiratory Endoscopy, HC-FMUSP, from 2003 to 2007. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were studied [11 females (73.33 percent)]; mean age, 34 ± 11.5 years. Airway changes were found in 80 percent of the patients, and the most frequent endoscopic finding was subglottic stenosis (n = 6). Therapeutic bronchoscopy was performed in three patients with subglottic stenosis and in other three patients with bronchial stenosis, all showing good results. CONCLUSION: Bronchoscopy allows for diagnosing, monitoring, and treating the airway lesions in WG, being a minimally invasive therapeutic option in selected cases.

Tracheobronchial compression by right-sided aortic arch in a middle aged male.

Exertional dyspnoea is a common symptom among middle-aged population. Diagnostic evaluation of such patients is often challenging and confusing. We report a patient presenting with exertional dyspnoea and an obstructive ventilatory defect on spirometry that was refractory to bronchodilator therapy. Careful review of the chest radiograph and spirometry pointed towards variable intra-thoracic airways obstruction as a cause of dyspnoea. Contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of the thorax and bronchoscopy established the diagnosis of a right-sided aortic arch resulting in tracheobronchial compression and tracheomalacia.

Complicaciones graves y sucesivas de la vía aérea en trasplantada pulmonar / Serious and consecutive airway complications after lung transplantation

Las complicaciones de la vía aérea son relativamente frecuentes luego de un trasplante pulmonar y representan un gran desafío para el equipo médico. A pesar del desarrollo de distintas modalidades de tratamiento endoscópico y la menor incidencia de complicaciones con el avance de las técnicas quirúrgicas, su morbimortalidad continúa siendo elevada. Presentamos el caso de una paciente con trasplante pulmonar derecho, que desarrolló cuatro complicaciones graves y sucesivas de la vía aérea con resolución terapéutica favorable.

Airway complications are relatively frequent after lung transplantation and represent a great challenge to the medical team. In spite of the development of different modalities of bronchoscopic treatment and a lower incidence of complications with new surgical techniques, morbidity and mortality are still elevated. We present the case of a woman who underwent right lung transplantation who afterward developed four severe and consecutive airway complications that solved with a successful therapy approach.

Endotracheal tuberculous stenosis: Ventilation rescue and bronchography guided stenting.

We present the case of a 16-year-old female patient who presented with dyspnoea, cough and noisy breathing that progressed further in hospital with the development of stridor and severe respiratory compromise requiring mechanical ventilatory support. Investigations were consistent with a diagnosis of endotracheal tuberculosis with tracheal and bronchial stenosis. Despite adequate anti-tuberculous therapy and ventilation the patient had high airway pressures, low tidal volumes and hypercapnia, which prevented weaning from mechanical ventilation. Balloon dilatation and stenting of the 4.5cm long, 2.3mm diameter stenotic tracheal segment was performed under radiological guidance. The patient was weaned successfully from the ventilator post-procedure. This report illustrates the successful management of an uncommon presentation of a common disease with modern endoscopic therapy.

An unusual endobronchial foreign body.

A 24-year-old male presented with features of pneumonia of right lower lobe. Chest radiograph after treatment showed cystic opacities in the right lower zone along with a radio-opaque foreign body at the right cardiophrenic angle. The foreign body was successfully removed via the fibreoptic bronchoscope. It was a very unusual type of foreign body with an equally unusual mode of aspiration.

Bronchial stenosis after blunt chest trauma.

A young boy who sustained blunt chest trauma 24 months back, presented with repeated chest infections. His chest skiagram revealed right hemithorax opaque and CT scan of thorax showed collapse of right lung. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy helped to diagnose the post-traumatic stenosis of right main bronchus. Laser resection was utilized to restore the patency.

Estenose brônquica após tuberculose: relato de um caso / Bronchial stenosis after tuberculosis: a case report

Os autores relatam um caso de estenose brônquica em paciente do sexo masculino, de 46 anos de idade, que, após completar corretamente tratamento para tuberculose pulmonar, procurou o hospital apresentando sintomas relativos a atelectasia do lobo superior esquerdo, demonstrada nas radiografias do tórax. A tomografia computadorizada evidenciou estenose no brônquio-fonte esquerdo, em seu terço distal, e obliteraçäo do bronquio para o lobo superior esquerdo, que estava atelectasiado, além de bronquiectasias cilíndricas em ambas as bases pulmonares. O paciente foi submetido a toracotomia póstero-lateral, com broncoplastia do brônquio do lobo inferior esquerdo e brônquio principal, próximo à carena, e lobectomia superior esquerda

Etiopatogenia na DBPOC / Etiopathogenesis in COPD

A obstruçao crônica do fluxo aéreo se deve normalmente a duas patologias: bronquite crônica e enfisema, embora possam ocorrer separadamente, com manifestaçoes clínicas diferentes, têm em suas lesoes associadas a principal causa de DBPOC (Doença Broncopulmonar Obstrutiva Crônica). A partir disso, os autores fazem uma revisao bibliográfica sobre aspectos do enfisema e da bronquite crônica, a fim de estabelecer dados etiopatogênicos e epidemiológicos da DBPOC.

Hiperreactividad bronquial en relación con factores ambientales / Bronchial hyperreactivity related with environmental factors

Se describen los factores ambientales asociados con hiperreactividad bronquial en una muestra de 449 niños atendidos en la Sala de Nebulizaciones del Hospital Nacional de Niños "Dr. Carlos Sáenz Herrera" por presentar dificultad respiratoria. El 59.5 por ciento eran del sexo masculino y el 40.5 por ciento del sexo femenino y la mayoría de ellos eran de edad pre-escolar. Más de la mitad de los niños egresaron con un diagnóstico de asma episódica infrecuente (77.7 por ciento). Los desinfectantes comunes (79.5 por ciento) y las infecciones respiratorias (76.4 por ciento) fueronlos factores ambientales más importantes asociados, con cuadros de sibilancias. Se investigó sobre la exposición pasiva al humo del cigarrillo, encontrándose los padres fumadores en un 82 por ciento. Además se encontraron niveles elevados de IgE total en el suero en 183 niños según los niveles de referencia de acuerdo a la edad. Una gran mayoría de los casos presentó niveles mayores a 1000 KU/l.

Estenose bronquica de etiologia tuberculosa: patogenia e tratamento / Bronchial stenosis of tuberculous etiology: pathogenesis and treatment

Descrevemos quatro casos de estenose bronquica, uma complicacao rara de tuberculose pulmonar. No primeiro caso, uma mulher de 18 anos, sem tratamento previo para tuberculose, apresentou estenose bronquica como resultado da cicatrizacao de complexo primario. Nao havia lesao de parenquima ao raio X. Nos outros tres pacientes a estenose bronquica foi atribuida a tuberculose ativa com pesquisa positiva para bacilo alcool-acido resistente em escarro. Estes receberam tratamento para tuberculose. Em um deles isto foi suficiente para a resolucao da estenose, mas nos outros dois pacientes ocorreu estenose bronquica devido a fibrose.