Severe Bronchospasm During Aortic Surgery for Type A Aortic Dissection.

Severe bronchospasm during cardiopulmonary bypass is an unusual but potentially fatal event. No literature previously has reported such an event observed during surgery for type A aortic dissection. Herein, we report on a case of severe bronchospasm following cardiopulmonary bypass, during aortic surgery for type A aortic dissection. Bronchospasm did not respond to any conventional therapy, necessitating extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation thus serves as an alternative and effective therapy for refractory bronchospasm.

Cocaine-Induced Bronchospasm Mimicking Acute Asthma Exacerbation.

Cocaine can cause a myriad of changes in the lung, which can range from bronchoconstriction to destruction of the alveolar-capillary membrane and acute lung injury. Cocaine-induced bronchospasm is a diagnosis of exclusion that should be considered when the clinical presentation of acute hypoxic and hypercapneic respiratory failure cannot be explained by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma exacerbation, anaphylaxis to food or medications, exercise, or infection. Here, we present two patients with acute hypoxic and hypercapneic respiratory failure that was ultimately attributed to cocaine use shortly prior to symptom onset.

Evaluating the Athlete with Suspected Exercise-Induced Asthma or Bronchospasm.

Exercise-induced asthma (EIA) and exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB)/bronchoconstriction (EIC) describes two clinical entities by which exercise triggers bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Exercise is a common trigger of bronchospasm in the asthmatic (EIA), as well as athletes without the underlying inflammation associated with asthma (EIC/EIB). Approximately 10% to 20% of the general population have EIA or EIB (). The approach to the diagnosis and subsequent management relies on the clinician's ability to recognize clinical signs and symptoms, then selecting the correct diagnostic test. A baseline spirometry/pulmonary function test is recommended for all athletes to evaluate for underlying asthma. Subsequent direct or indirect bronchial provocation testing is recommended to correctly diagnose EIA or EIB (). Athletes should not be treated empirically with bronchodilators based on symptoms alone without confirmatory spirometry and provocative testing.

[Bronchial spasm as extraesophageal manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease].

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is one of the common spread diseases. Its manifestations are diverse and include esophageal and extraesophageal manifestations. One of them is a so-called "respiratory mask". It is very difficult to cure it without realizing therapy of the main disease. A clinical case of a patient with bronchial asthma in combination with a hernia hiatal and GERD is described. Clinical effectiveness of surgical treatment is demonstrated clinically.

An official JRS statement: The principles of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurement and interpretation of the results in clinical practice.

Nitric oxide (NO) is produced in the body and has been shown to have diverse actions in the abundance of research that has been performed on it since the 1970s, leading to Furchgott, Murad, and Ignarro receiving the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1998. NO is produced by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). NOS is broadly distributed, being found in the nerves, blood vessels, airway epithelium, and inflammatory cells. In asthma, inflammatory cytokines induce NOS activity in the airway epithelium and inflammatory cells, producing large amounts of NO. Measurement of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a simple, safe, and quantitative method of assessing airway inflammation. The FeNO measurement method has been standardized and, in recent years, this noninvasive test has been broadly used to support the diagnosis of asthma, monitor airway inflammation, and detect asthma overlap in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Since the normal upper limit of FeNO for healthy Japanese adults is 37 ppb, values of 35 ppb or more are likely to be interpreted as a signature of inflammatory condition presenting features with asthma, and this value is used in clinical practice. Research is also underway for clinical application of these measurements in other respiratory diseases such as COPD and interstitial lung disease. Currently, there remains some confusion regarding the significance of these measurements and the interpretation of the results. This statement is designed to provide a simple explanation including the principles of FeNO measurements, the measurement methods, and the interpretation of the measurement results.

Current concepts in the diagnosis and management of exercise-induced bronchospasm.

Exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) is a common occurrence in individuals with asthma, though it can also affect individuals without asthma. It occurs frequently in athletes. Common symptoms include coughing, dyspnea, chest tightness, and wheezing; however, there can be a variety of more subtle symptoms. The differential diagnosis of EIB is broad and includes several pulmonary and cardiac disorders. During the initial evaluation, a complete history, physical examination, and spirometry should be performed. In most patients with EIB, the baseline spirometry is normal; therefore, bronchoprovocation testing is strongly recommended. Both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic approaches are important in the treatment of EIB. Management of EIB on the sideline of athletic events requires preparation and immediate access to rescue inhalers.

[Acute respiratory dyspnea in children]. / La dyspnée aiguë chez l'enfant.

Acute respiratory dyspnea is very frequent in children and must be quickly treated to obtain the best prognosis. The diagnosis depends from the natural history of the disease and from the quality of clinical assessment. The use of an algorithm according to the presence of stridor or bronchospasm is very contributive to the diagnosis. The paper reviews the pathophysiology of dyspnea in children and the more common diseases that are causing respiratory distress. Finally, treatment of respiratory failure and management of specific diseases are defined.

FUNCTION OF EXTERNAL RESPIRATION AND MARKERS OF OXIDATIVE STRESS IN CHILDREN-RESIDENTS OF RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED TERRITORIES. / FUNKTsIIa ZOVNIShN'OGO DYKhANNIa I MARKERY OKSYDATYVNOGO STRESU U DITEY̆ ­ MEShKANTsIV RADIOAKTYVNO ZABRUDNENYKh TERYTORIY̆.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the influence of processes of lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant protection on the function of external respiration in children-residents of radioactive contaminated territories. MATERIALS AND METHODS: There were examined children of school age, inhabitants of radioactive contaminated ter- ritories (RCT) without respiratory and pulmonary pathology, and patients with bronchial asthma (BA). Examination of the ventilation lung function was performed by the method of pneumotachography according to the analysis of the «flow-volume¼ loop. End products of lipid peroxidation (LPO), reacting with thiobarbituric acid (malondialde- hyde), enzymes-antioxidants - catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione transferase were studied to determine the signs of oxidative stress. RESULTS: Examinations of ventilation lung function in children-residents of RCT without respiratory and pulmonary pathology showed no significant deviations of its parameters beyond the limits of physiological fluctuations; a decrease in bronchial patency at different levels of the bronchial tree was established in children with BA. An increased incidence of bronchial hyperreactivity was noted in both the patients with BA and those who did not have bronchopulmonary pathology. The absence of an increase in the content of LPO products (malondialdehyde) in blood serum of children-residents of RCT with increased activity of catalase and group of glutathione enzymes indi- cates the sufficiency of compensatory possibilities of antioxidant protection. CONCLUSIONS: Studies of correlation between the function of external respiration and markers of oxidative stress determined that the indices of bronchial patency directly correlate with the activity of enzymes-antioxidants of the glutathione group and inversely - with the content of the LPO products in children-residents of RCT. The frequency of bronchospasm inversely correlated with the activity of glutathione group antioxidants. There are inverse correla- tion of 137Cs content in the body with the activity of glutathione transferase and glutathione peroxidase.

Synchronous airway lesions in laryngomalacia.

OBJECTIVE: Laryngomalacia is the most common cause of congenital stridor. Laryngomalacia may be associated with other structural and functional airway lesions. While previous studies suggested a 10-45% rate of synchronous airway lesions (SALs), the exact rate and it's clinical significance is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of SALs below the glottic level in congenital laryngomalacia, and to investigate possible relations with other clinical findings. METHODS: A cohort of 228 infants with congenital stridor who underwent fiberoptic flexible bronchoscopy (FFB) was analyzed. Data was collected from the hospital records. All procedures were reevaluated from the video recordings. RESULTS: SALs below the vocal cords were observed in 7.5% of the case (17/228). The most common SAL was tracheal bronchus followed by tracheomalacia and stenosis of the left main bronchus. No correlation was found between the presence of a SAL below the vocal cords and any other medical condition except for neurodevelopmental disorders. Except for one patient, all cases with SAL did not have any clinical symptoms or signs that would have suggested an accompanying airway lesion. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of SALs in infants with congenital stridor due to laryngomalacia is low and most of the additional lesions are benign. The yield of discovering clinically significant SALs below the glottic level is low and the routine search for a synchronous lesion below the vocal cords should be questioned. Except for underlying neurodevelopmental problems, no clear risk factors for the existence of SALs were identified.

[Occurrence of delayed symptoms after a challenge test with methacholine]. / Survenue de symptômes tardifs après un test de provocation par la méthacholine.

There are few prospective studies available on the development of delayed symptoms following challenge tests with methacholine (MCT) at the currently recommended doses. The objective of this study was to describe the nature and frequency of respiratory symptoms suggestive of bronchospasm developing within 24hours after a MCT. The study was offered to adult patients who underwent MCT seen consecutively between June and October 2015. Following the test, a questionnaire adapted from the GINA asthma control questionnaire bearing on diurnal and nocturnal symptoms (cough, dyspnoea, wheeze and tightness), was delivered to the patient and the replies collected by telephone 24hours later. Of the 101 patients included (initial FEV1 2.82±0.79L), 46 (46 %) were MCT+ and 55 (54 %) MCT-. Among the MCT-, 4 (7 %) presented with immediate symptoms (S+) and 4 (7 %) with delayed symptoms. Among the MCT+ patients, 36 (78 %) presented with immediate symptoms (P<0.001 compared with the MCT- patients), and 39 (85 %) with delayed symptoms (P<0.001 compared with the MCT- patients). Delayed symptoms developed with a mean of 5h30 after the provocation test. Immediate and delayed symptoms were more frequent in subjects having significant non-specific bronchial hyper-reactivity. Informing patients of the risk of developing delayed symptoms seems useful and allows optimization of their management after a MCT.

Noninvasive ventilation and respiratory physical therapy reduce exercise-induced bronchospasm and pulmonary inflammation in children with asthma: randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is characterized by hyperresponsiveness of the airways, and exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) is a symptom that limits a large proportion of asthmatic patients, especially children. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) leads to a reduction in the reactivity of the airways. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of outpatient treatment with CPAP and bilevel pressure combined with respiratory physical therapy for children and adolescents with asthma following bronchial hyperresponsiveness caused by an exercise bronchoprovocation test. METHODS: A randomized, controlled, blind, clinical trial was conducted involving 68 asthmatic children and adolescents aged 4 to 16 years divided into three groups: G1, treated with bilevel pressure (inspiratory positive airway pressure: 12 cm H2O; expiratory positive airway pressure: 8 cm H2O), G2, treated with CPAP (8 cm H2O) and G3, treated with respiratory muscle training (RMT), considered as the control group. All groups were treated at an outpatient clinic and submitted to 10 1-hour sessions, each of which also included respiratory exercises. Evaluations were performed before and after treatment and involved spirometry, an exercise bronchoprovocation test, respiratory pressures, fraction of nitric oxide (FeNO), the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ6) and anthropometric variables. This study received approval from the local ethics committee (certificate number: 1487225/2016) and is registered with ClinicalTrials [ ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02939625]. RESULTS: A total of 64 patients concluded the protocol; the mean age of the patients was 10 years. All were in the ideal weight range and had adequate height ( z score: -2 to +2). The three groups demonstrated improved asthma control after the treatments, going from partial to complete control. A significant increase in maximal inspiratory pressure occurred in the three groups, with the greatest increase in the RMT group. A reduction in FeNO in the order of 17.4 parts per billion (effect size: 2.43) and a reduction in bronchial responsiveness on the exercise bronchoprovocation test occurred in the bilevel group. An improvement in FeNO on the order of 15.7 parts per billion (effect size: 2.46) and a reduction in bronchial responsiveness occurred in the CPAP group. No changes in lung function or responsiveness occurred in the RMT group. CONCLUSION: Positive pressure and respiratory exercises were effective in reducing pulmonary inflammation, exercise-innduced bronchoespasm (EIB), and increased the clinical control of asthma, as well as RMT, which also resulted in improved clinical control.

Use of heliox for intraoperative bronchospasm: a case report.

Bronchospasm is an anesthetic emergency that can lead to disastrous outcomes if treatment is irresolvable. An anesthesia provider must immediately initiate treatment if bronchospasm is suspected in order to avoid negative sequelae. The following is a case report of a 32-year-old man who experienced refractory bronchospasm upon emergence from general anesthesia. This article discusses the initial treatment attempted at resolving the bronchospasm, as well as the use of heliox in the ultimate resolution of the bronchospasm. Although heliox has been used foryears to treat patients with various respiratory complications, it is not currently a common treatment instituted by anesthesia practitioners for the treatment of bronchospasm. Consideration of the use of heliox may provide another option for the treatment of a patient suffering from refractory bronchospasm.

[Asthma in elderly--diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties]. / Astma u ludzi w podeszlym wieku--trudnosci diagnostyczne i terapeutyczne.

Epidemiological studies which were carried out in the USA and Europe indicated that bronchial asthma is a frequent cause of respiratory symptoms in people older than 60 years. Development of allergic inflammation in airways in elderly is similar to young people. There are two clinical forms of bronchial asthma: persistent asthma, which appears before 40 years of life, and asthma, which appears in people in the age over 65 years. Detailed evaluation of asthma severity in elderly is difficult because of a coexisting diseases other than asthma which are common in this group of age. Anti-asthmatic treatment in older people ought to be administered very individually. The clinical significance of asthma in elderly is important because it is frequently very severe, with permanent dyspnea and deep limitation of ventilation.

[Basic diagnostic approach to suspected allergic asthma]. / Näichtliche Atemnot und typische Pfeifkonzerte. Basisdiagnostik bei Verdacht auf allergisches Asthma.

Anamnestic factors of importance are, in particular, acute attacks of shortness of breath, dry cough and symptoms of concomitant rhinoconjunctivitis. Wheezing and other rhonchi are the typical findings on auscultation. Of decisive importance for the diagnosis is spirometry showing reduced values for the one-second/forced vital capacity and the Tiffeneau index. After administration of a beta sympathomimetic, an obstruction can be at least partially reversed. An absent primary obstruction should be inducible by unspecific provocation. On the basis of symptoms and lung function, bronchial asthma is divided into four stages. For establishing the allergic genesis of the illness, additional anamnestic data, in particular concerning the nature of possible allergens, are needed before sensitization is proven by the prick test and the detection of specific IgE antibodies. An equivocal situation can be clarified with the aid of specific nasal--more rarely also bronchial--provocation.

Case Report of S1Q3T3 Electrocardiographic Abnormality in a Pregnant Asthmatic Patient During Acute Bronchospasm.

BACKGROUND Asthma is the most common chronic pulmonary disease during pregnancy. Several previous reports have documented reversible electrocardiographic changes during severe acute asthma attacks, including tachycardia, P pulmonale, right bundle branch block, right axis deviation, and ST segment and T wave abnormalities. CASE REPORT We present the case of a pregnant patient with asthma exacerbation in which acute bronchospasm caused S1Q3T3 abnormality on an electrocardiogram (ECG). The complete workup of ECG findings of S1Q3T3 was negative and correlated with bronchospasm. The S1Q3T3 electrocardiographic abnormality can be seen in acute bronchospasm in pregnant women. The other causes like pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, acute lung disease, cor pulmonale, and left posterior fascicular block were excluded. CONCLUSIONS Asthma exacerbations are of considerable concern during pregnancy due to their adverse effect on the fetus, and optimization of asthma treatment during pregnancy is vital for achieving good outcomes. Prompt recognition of electrocardiographic abnormality and early treatment can prevent adverse perinatal outcomes.