RESUMEN
Background: Nd-YAG laser is a relatively safe and effective procedure in the management of various types of endobronchial lesions including tracheobronchial tumors. It has been used in treatment of benign tumors and as a palliative therapy in obstructive airway lesions due to non-operable lung cancers
Materials and Methods: In this study, patients who underwent laser therapy because of their endobronchial lesions that admitted during 1994-99 in our hospital were investigated. A total number of 210 patients including 14 with benign tumors, 77 with malignant tumors, 11 with metastatic lesions, 14 with undefined prognosis tumor, and 94 with other lesions who seek laser therapy were investigated. The most common signs and symptoms among these patients were cough, dyspnea, hemoptysis, and obstructive pneumonitis. Improvement in airway obstruction following the application of laser therapy was assessed based on clinical signs and symptoms, arterial blood gas indices and spirometric results
Results: After performing laser therapy, cough in 95.1% of patients, dyspnea in 97.7%, hemoptysis in 89.4% and obstructive pneumonitis in all of these patients showed a significant improvement. Obstruction was relieved in more than 95% of the patients; however, this rate reached to 100% in lesions of trachea and main airways. 98% of 263 obstruction sites were relieved immediately after procedure, and 34.6 % of these cases were completely treated by laser therapy. Complications of laser therapy were observed only in 2 of these patients, that resulted in death in one case
Conclusion: The results of our study were consistent with the previous studies regarding the efficacy and safety of Nd-YAG laser therapy in endobronchial lesions
RESUMEN
Background: Chemical warfare victims with history of exposure to sulfur mustard gas comprise a considerable number of our young asthmatic population. They are at risk of adverse effects of the gas including asthma; diffuse pulmonary fibrosis, chemical bronchitis, skin lesions and ophthalmic complications, with a great part of their treatment depending on corticosteroid compounds
Objective: To evaluate the rate of osteoporosis in a group of asthmatic victims of sulfur mustard gas and to compare it with non-chemical asthmatic patients, in order to determine the distribution, site of involvement, intensity of effects, and difference with the non-exposed group
Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, 100 asthmatic male patients who had a history of exposure to sulfur mustard gas were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, and matched with 100 non-chemical asthmatic male patients in regard to age, duration of disease, duration of corticosteroid therapy, and the form of therapy. Bone Mineral Density [BMD] test was performed on hip and lumbar vertebrae of case and control groups according to WHO criteria. Independent- samples T test was used to analyze the results
Results: There was a significant difference [p <0.05] between the two groups in the range of osteoporosis and osteopenia. No significant correlation was found between age and complications. Most changes [65%] were observed in the vertebral column, and hip involvement [%5] was much more severe in the case group
Conclusion: Considering the morbidities caused by this chemical warfare agent, the osteoporotic complications in chemical warfare victims can intensify their disabilities. Therefore, preventive measures must be undertaken to reduce complications