ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The purpose of the current study was to clarify the sensitivity and complication rate of the radial (endobronchial ultrasound, EBUS) without the use of guide-sheath (GS) and fluoroscopy for lung cancer (LC), by measuring the distance from the orifice of the bronchus to the pulmonary lesion, as well as to analyze factors that can predict the diagnostic outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 147 patients with peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPL) underwent radial EBUS-guided transbronchial biopsy (TBB) in between August 1, 2013, and August 31, 2014. We analyzed retrospectively radiological data, diagnostic work-up in everyday clinical settings, final diagnosis and complication rates, as well as factors influencing the diagnostic outcome. RESULTS: Around 63.9% of PPLs were visualized by ultrasound. A definitive malignant diagnosis was established in 39 patients (26.5%) using radial EBUS. In the remaining 108 patients, additional procedures were performed. We missed LC diagnosis in 40 cases that results in a sensitivity of 49%. For malignant lesions visualized by radial EBUS, the sensitivity was 60%, compared with 24% for not visualized lesions. For malignant lesions, logistic regression was performed to identify the factors that had significant influence on visualization of the lesion and on diagnostic yield. Logistic regression analysis showed significant odds ratios (OR) for visualization depending on location of the lesion; upper lobe lesions were identified more frequent with OR of 3.85 (95% CI 1.42 - 10.98, p=0.009). Size above 30 mm had a non-significant OR of 2.11 (95% CI 0.80-5.73, p=0.134) for visualization.Diagnostic yield was only significantly influenced by visualization with the radial EBUS, OR 3.70 (95% CI 1.35-11.02, p=0.014). Location (p=0.745) and size above 30 mm (p=0.308) showed no significant increase in diagnostic yield.Other lesion characteristics defined on computed tomography, such as distance to carina and pleura, did not show any significant influence on the diagnostic yield. The complications rate was low with three cases of pneumothorax. CONCLUSION: Radial EBUS has definitely its place in the diagnostic work-up of PPL, especially for the lesions that can be visualized by radial ultrasound. However, prospective randomized controlled studies are necessary to raise the diagnostic yield and to define factors that can predict the outcome, which will consequently enable selection of the 'right' patients for this diagnostic procedure.
ABSTRACT
This study developed and tested a collaboration model to improve the quality of palliative care for all patients with life-threatening illness who require palliation. Journal audit was performed on 79 in-hospital patients. European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer, Quality of Life Question-naire (EORTC-QLQ-C15-PAL) symptom screening was found to be applicable to all patients with life-threatening illness. It was found important to document the patients' wishes for the end of life care and furthermore the electronic correspondence was found to contain relevant and sufficient information for the continuity of care.
Subject(s)
Palliative Care , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/diagnosis , Critical Illness , Female , Heart Failure/diagnosis , Humans , Male , Mass Screening , Medical Records , Models, Theoretical , Neoplasms/diagnosis , Patient Preference , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/therapy , Quality of Health Care , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Electromagnetic navigated (EMN) bronchoscopy is a new diagnostic method, which has been used in Denmark since 2008. It is a safe method for diagnosing lung cancer in patients with severely reduced lung function. The method allows diagnosis of peripherally located tumours. From September 2009 to January 2012, the procedure has been performed in 56 patients. In total, 67 tumour evaluations have been conducted. In 15 patients a cancer diagnosis was made. In two patients, pneumothorax occurred. The risk of pneumothorax as a consequence of the EMN procedure was 3%. This is in line with results and experiences from other studies.
Subject(s)
Bronchoscopy/methods , Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis , Bronchoscopy/adverse effects , Electromagnetic Phenomena , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/complications , Pneumothorax/etiologyABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; however, no study has evaluated the influence of vitamin D status on effects of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). METHODS: We studied 311 patients, who participated in a 7-week outpatient PR. Vitamin D status was assessed at entry and examined for association with patient characteristics, dropout from PR, and effect on endurance shuttle walk time. RESULTS: Vitamin D level 25 nM was seen in 61 (19.6%) of the patients. They were significantly younger, were more frequently on long-term oxygen therapy, had higher body mass index and fat-free mass index, had worse quality of life score, tended to have lower percent predicted value for forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration, and more frequently were current smokers. They had a 3-time higher risk of dropout from the PR program (P = .003) compared with patients with normal vitamin D status and a poorer improvement in endurance shuttle walk time (P = .03). DISCUSSION: In conclusion, vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with higher dropout rates from PR, and there was a tendency toward a poorer improvement in endurance shuttle walk time.
