[Home non-invasive ventilation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. / Ventilation non invasive à domicile au cours de la broncho-pneumopathie chronique obstructive.

INTRODUCTION: The benefits of long-term non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients remain controversial. AIM: To analyze the characteristics of COPD patients under home NIV and to evaluate its impact among this population. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective study between January 2002 and April 2016 of COPD patients under long-term NIV at "la Rabta" and the Military Hospital. RESULTS: There were 27 patients with an average age of 64 and a sex ratio (M/F) of 0.92. Active smoking was reported in 96.3%. A persistent hypercapnia following an acute exacerbation of COPD with failure to wean the NIV was the main indication of long-term NIV. We noted a reduction in hospital admissions in the first year of 60% and in intensive care of 83.3% (P<10-3). There was no non-significant decrease of PaCO2 (4.5mmHg). There was no modification in FEV 1 and in FVC (P>0.05). The survival rate was 96.3% at 1 year, 83.3% at 2 years and a median survival of 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that home NIV contributes to the stabilization of some COPD patients by reducing the hospitalizations rates for exacerbation. More prospective studies are needed to better assess the impact of NIV on survival and quality of life and to better define the COPD patients who require NIV.

[Alveolar haemorrhage following a cannabis water pipe]. / Hémorragie alvéolaire suite à un bang de cannabis.

Respiratory toxicity of cannabis is well-known today particularly with the new consumption patterns. We report the case of a 25-year-old man admitted for haemoptysis, with unfavourable outcome and acute respiratory failure. Various explorations concluded to acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to diffuse alveolar haemorrhage. Etiological assessment was initially negative. Outcome was favourable during hospitalization, authorizing the discharge of our patient. Two days later, alveolar haemorrhage recur, with positive toxicological tests for cannabis and the patient admits smoking cannabis by plastic "bang". We illustrate, through this case, the severity of respiratory complications caused by new methods of using cannabis, particularly with plastic 'bang', hence the need to insist of the importance of supported withdrawal and to inform young people how these techniques are serious.ssss.

[Multiple bilateral pulmonary nodules revealing a congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation]. / Lâcher de ballon révélateur d'une malformation adénomatoïde kystique congénitale du poumon.

Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) of the lung is a rare congenital developmental abnormality, representing about 25% of all congenital lung lesions. It is very rare that presentation is delayed until adulthood. We report a case of 63-year-old woman without notable pathological antecedents in whom a systematic chest X-ray revealed multiple bilateral pulmonary nodules. The patient was asymptomatic and her physical examination was normal. CT scan showed bilateral liquid rounded thin-walled densities of various size, with a homogeneous non calcified content. The diagnosis was based on radiological findings and surgery. The result of histopathological examination obtained by thoracic surgery confirmed CCAM without malignancy. The postoperative follow up showed an excellent recovery.