Continuous noninvasive ventilation delivered by a novel total face mask: a case series report.

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has been widely used to decrease the complications associated with tracheal intubation in mechanically ventilated patients. However, nasal ulcerations may occur when conventional masks are used for continuous ventilation. A total face mask, which has no contact with the more sensitive areas of the face, is a possible option. We describe 3 patients with acute respiratory failure due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, who developed nasal bridge skin necrosis during continuous NIV, and one patient with post-extubation respiratory failure due to a high spinal cord injury, who had facial trauma with contraindication for conventional mask use. The total face mask was very well tolerated by all the patients, and permitted safe and efficient continuous NIV for several days until the acute respiratory failure episode resolved. None of the patients required endotracheal intubation during the acute episode.

Primary inoculation skin tuberculosis by accidental needle stick.

A 42-year-old female laboratory worker presented with a left index finger skin lesion after an accidental prick while handling samples of a cultural exam of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Surgical excision was performed and pathology analysis revealed a dermic chronic inflammatory process with no granulomas. Later, a non-painful lymphadenopathy appeared in the left axilla as well as brownish indurated skin lesions in the lower limbs consistent with erythema nodosum. Fine needle aspiration biopsy of the lymph node revealed epithelioid granulomas, Langhans' multinucleated giant cells and the presence of acid-fast bacilli. Standard tuberculosis treatment resulted in regression of lesions and no relapses occurred in the 2-year follow-up period.