The value of initial cavitation to predict re-treatment with pulmonary tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary cavitation is the classic hallmark of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and is the site of very high mycobacterial burden associated with antimycobacterial drug resistance and treatment failure. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between re-treatment PTB and initial pulmonary cavitation coordinated with other clinical factors. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study of 291 newly diagnosed cases of pulmonary TB in The Infectious Hospital of Wuxi from Dec 2009 to Dec 2011 with complete follow-up information until December 31st of 2014. 68 patients were followed-up with PTB re-treatment; the rest of the PTB patients (n = 223) had completed anti-TB treatment, and cured without re-treatment were selected as controls. RESULTS: The univariate analysis [hazard ratio (HR) 1.885, 95 % CI 1.170-3.035, P = 0.009] and the multivariable analysis (HR 2.242, 95 % CI 1.294-3.882, P = 0.004) demonstrated that the initial pulmonary cavitation was a prognostic predictor for TB re-treatment. Additionally, the re-treatment rates in PTB patients with cavitation and no-cavitation were 27.1 and 15.5 %, respectively, with significant difference (log-rank test; P = 0.010). Other factors, age of ≥60 and history of smoking, were also prognostic variables. CONCLUSION: Initial pulmonary cavitation of chest X-ray was a significant predictor for PTB re-treatment.

Diagnóstico ecográfico del infarto pulmonar en urgencias. A propósito de un caso / Ultrasound diagnosis of pulmonary infarction in emergencies. A case presentation

El infarto pulmonar es una lesión isquémica del parénquima que acontece en el contexto de un tromboembolismo pulmonar cuando la obstrucción arterial priva de perfusión a dicha zona y la circulación bronquial adyacente no aporta el flujo necesario. Aparece aproximadamente en un 40% de los tromboembolismos pulmonares. Como médicos de Urgencias podríamos diagnosticar el infarto pulmonar a pie de cama del paciente de forma rápida, sencilla, inocua y eficiente con la disponibilidad de ecógrafos en nuestras urgencias y centros de salud. La posibilidad de aproximarnos al diagnóstico etiológico con una primera sospecha clínica sumando factores de riesgo, sintomatología, signos clínicos y radiológicos y el uso de pruebas de imagen in situ, incrementa notablemente nuestra sensibilidad y especificidad (AU)

Pulmonary infarction is a parenchymal ischemic lesion that occurs in the context of a pulmonary embolism when arterial blockage deprives perfusion to that area and the adjacent bronchial circulation does not provide the necessary flow. It appears in approximately 40% of pulmonary embolisms. Emergency Physicians are able to diagnose a pulmonary infraction at the patient bedside, in a quick, easy, safe and efficient way with the availability of ultrasound in our Emergency Rooms and Health Centres. The possibility of approaching the aetiology, firstly with a clinical suspicion then adding risk factors, symptoms, clinical and radiological signs and the use of in situ imaging, increases the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis (AU)