Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage in a Non-Athletic Child: Implications for Military Recruits.

Hemoptysis is a rare presenting symptom in pediatric and young adult patients with a highly variable outcome ranging from an isolated mild occurrence to severe illness and death. Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) has several reports in adult literature but has not previously been reported in pediatric patients. A 12-year-old female with a history of trisomy X (47, XXX), obesity, depression, anxiety, and obstructive sleep apnea presented to the pediatric pulmonology clinic after several episodes of hemoptysis. Spirometry, imaging, and laboratory evaluation for autoimmune vasculitides and other causes associated with pediatric hemoptysis did not reveal an etiology for the hemoptysis. A combined bronchoscopy with pediatric and adult providers revealed no airway lesions or sources of bleeding. EIPH is a diagnosis of exclusion. This patient was diagnosed with EIPH and had spontaneous resolution with improved fitness. Many military training and service activities are similar to those reported with EIPH. Trainees with various levels of aerobic fitness are at risk of developing EIPH. The hemoptysis evaluation is important for military providers given the range of severity in presentations, even though it is a rare occurrence. In addition to a novel presentation of EIPH, this case demonstrates the value of collaboration between pediatric and adult specialists in the Military Health System (MHS). Military care providers should be aware of this rare phenomenon in service members and trainees who are at risk during maximal aerobic effort.

Correlation between positive airway pressure and medication adherence: the healthy user effect.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Despite the efficacy of positive airway pressure (PAP) for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), adherence remains challenging and negatively impacts assessments of effectiveness. It is unclear if low adherence is due to intolerance of PAP, or if this reflects overall adherence with medical therapy. We sought to correlate PAP use with medication adherence to determine if poor adherence with PAP was specific to this treatment or represented global compliance with medical therapy. METHODS: 600 consecutive OSA patients treated with PAP. Objective measures of PAP use were correlated with medication adherence. We included all chronically used medications, defined as medications used daily for at least ninety days prior to PAP initiation. Medication use was verified using an electronic health record. PAP adherence ("regular use") was defined as PAP use for ≥4 hours/night on ≥70% of nights. Medication adherence was defined as >70% of pills taken as prescribed. RESULTS: Complete records were available for 566 patients, 361 (63.8%) utilized chronic medications. The cohort was primarily men (90.3%, age 44.6±10.2 years), with moderate OSA (AHI 18.1±13.9 events/h). In patients on chronic medications, PAP was used 55.8% of nights and 37.7% were regular users. Patients who were adherent with medications used PAP more hours/night (5.4 vs. 4.6, p<0.001) and were more likely to have regular PAP use compared to those non-adherent with medications (p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Adherence with PAP correlated with adherence to chronic medications. Low PAP adherence may reflect an individual's global adherence to medical care. This association may lead to better identification of patients who benefit from targeted therapy to improve overall healthcare adherence.

Design and rationale of the CHILL phase II trial of hypothermia and neuromuscular blockade for acute respiratory distress syndrome.

The Cooling to Help Injured Lungs (CHILL) trial is an open label, two group, parallel design multicenter, randomized phase IIB clinical trial assessing the efficacy and safety of targeted temperature management with combined external cooling and neuromuscular blockade to block shivering in patients with early moderate-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This report provides the background and rationale for the clinical trial and outlines the methods using the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials guidelines. Key design challenges include: [1] protocolizing important co-interventions; [2] incorporation of patients with COVID-19 as the cause of ARDS; [3] inability to blind the investigators; and [4] ability to obtain timely informed consent from patients or legally authorized representatives early in the disease process. Results of the Reevaluation of Systemic Early Neuromuscular Blockade (ROSE) trial informed the decision to mandate sedation and neuromuscular blockade only in the group assigned to therapeutic hypothermia and proceed without this mandate in the control group assigned to a usual temperature management protocol. Previous trials conducted in National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute ARDS Clinical Trials (ARDSNet) and Prevention and Early Treatment of Acute Lung Injury (PETAL) Networks informed ventilator management, ventilation liberation and fluid management protocols. Since ARDS due to COVID-19 is a common cause of ARDS during pandemic surges and shares many features with ARDS from other causes, patients with ARDS due to COVID-19 are included. Finally, a stepwise approach to obtaining informed consent prior to documenting critical hypoxemia was adopted to facilitate enrollment and reduce the number of candidates excluded because eligibility time window expiration.

Outcomes of Fungemia in Patients Receiving Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

There are limited data on the treatment of fungal infections complicating extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). In 14 patients who developed fungal bloodstream infections on ECMO, 8 (57%) survived to discharge. Of the 5 patients completing treatment prior to decannulation, 2 (40%) developed recurrent fungal infections.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Is Associated With a Decrease in Anaerobic Threshold, Oxygen Pulse, and Maximal Oxygen Uptake.

BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been linked to respiratory symptoms and functional limitations, but the mechanisms leading to this association are poorly defined. RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the relationship between PTSD, lung function, and the cardiopulmonary response to exercise in combat veterans presenting with chronic respiratory symptoms? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This study prospectively enrolled military service members with respiratory symptoms following deployment to southwest Asia. All participants underwent a comprehensive evaluation that included pulmonary function testing and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Pulmonary function test variables and cardiopulmonary response to exercise were compared in subjects with and without PTSD by using multivariable linear regression to adjust for confounders. RESULTS: A total of 303 participants were included (PTSD, n = 70; non-PTSD, n = 233). Those with PTSD had a greater frequency of current respiratory symptoms. There were no differences in measures for airway disease or lung volumes, but patients with PTSD had a reduction in diffusing capacity that was eliminated following adjustment for differences in hemoglobin levels. Participants with PTSD had a lower anaerobic threshold (23.9 vs 26.4 cc/kg per minute; P = .004), peak oxygen pulse (19.7 vs 18.5 cc/beat; P = .03), and peak oxygen uptake (34.5 vs 38.8 cc/kg per minute; P < .001). No significant difference was observed in gas exchange, respiratory reserve, or effort at peak exercise between participants with and without PTSD. INTERPRETATION: A diagnosis of PTSD was associated with a reduced anaerobic threshold, oxygen pulse, and peak oxygen uptake. This objective reduction in cardiopulmonary work is independent of baseline lung function, was not associated with abnormalities in gas exchange or respiratory reserve, and may be related to deconditioning.

A 21-Year-Old Man With a Cough.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 21-year-old male African American college student from Southern California, with no significant medical history, was visiting family in southwestern Texas when he presented to the hospital with 1 week history of cough, shortness of breath, lower back pain, and a 10-pound weight loss.

A 24-Year-Old Woman With Precipitous Respiratory Failure After Lung Transplantation.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 24-year-old woman with ΔF508/Y1092X cystic fibrosis (CF) complicated by severe obstructive lung disease (FEV1 of 30% predicted) was admitted for IV antibiotics for planned sinus surgery resulting from severe chronic sinusitis causing frequent exacerbations and declining lung function. She had persistent airway infection with multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and growth of a fungus presumed to be an airway colonizer, identified as Stephanoascus ciferrii 1 year before presentation. Two days after surgery, she developed acute respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. On day 4 of mechanical ventilation, venovenous-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) was initiated for refractory respiratory failure. The following day, she was listed for bilateral lung transplant and was transplanted 4 days later. Following transplantation, she was decannulated from ECMO; however, over the next 12 hours, oxygenation deteriorated requiring reinstitution of VV-ECMO for presumed severe primary graft dysfunction. Despite treatment with broad spectrum antimicrobial coverage with piperacillin/tazobactam, ciprofloxacin, linezolid, micafungin, voriconazole, and ganciclovir, she failed to improve and developed complex bilateral pleural effusions.

Ten Years of Chronic Cough in a 64-Year-Old Man With Multiple Pulmonary Nodules.

A 64-year-old male former smoker with a history of prostate cancer presented to our pulmonary clinic, complaining of nonproductive cough for 10 years. Prior evaluation included treatment for upper airway cough syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux, stopping angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, and initiation of inhaled ß-agonists. Esophageal pH monitoring indicated silent reflux, and proton pump inhibitor therapy was started. He continued to cough and complain of dyspnea. Physical examination produced unremarkable results, with no evidence of lymphadenopathy. Pulmonary function tests showed a pseudo-restrictive pattern with air trapping, hyperreactivity, and incomplete bronchodilator responsiveness: FEV1, 2.48 L (69% of predicted); FVC, 3.57 L (75% of predicted); FEV1/FVC, 92%; total lung capacity, 7.00 L (100% of predicted); and residual volume, 3.05 L (136% of predicted). Laboratory studies, including a complete metabolic panel, prostate-specific antigen test, and complete blood count, yielded normal results.

Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration for Mediastinal Staging in a Community Medical Center.

RATIONALE: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) and positron emission tomography (PET)-computed tomography (CT) are valuable tools for lung cancer staging. Data from tertiary referral centers suggest that these modalities are superior to mediastinoscopy in mediastinal staging. OBJECTIVES: To validate EBUS-TBNA for lung cancer staging in a community center with operators with various levels of experience. METHODS: At an 800-bed community hospital, we reviewed all cases where EBUS-TBNA and PET-CT were performed for mediastinal staging by one of seven private practice pulmonologists. Cases were reviewed with lymph node dissection by mediastinoscopy after negative EBUS-TBNA. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of the 333 cases that were reviewed, 44 underwent mediastinoscopy after negative EBUS-TBNA. Four patients were positive for malignancy at stations 4R and 7 lymph nodes. In none of these cases did EBUS-TBNA reveal lymphoid tissue confirming the sample location. PET-CT showed mediastinal lymph nodes with increased avidity in two of the false-negative cases. EBUS-TBNA plus PET-CT had a sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value of 98.86, 100, and 94.87%, respectively, compared with mediastinoscopy for detecting metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: EBUS-TBNA is accurate in detecting mediastinal metastasis of lung cancer in the community setting. PET-CT without uptake in lymph nodes reduces the likelihood of malignancy but cannot rule out mediastinal involvement.

Pulmonary nodule tracking using chest computed tomography in a histoplasmosis endemic area.

OBJECTIVE: In areas with endemic histoplasmosis, incidental pulmonary nodules are common. Rate of malignancy and applicability of current tracking guidelines in these regions remain unclear. METHODS: A total of 148 cases of incidental pulmonary nodules tracked with chest computed tomography were reviewed for radiologic characteristics, diagnosis, number, and size. RESULTS: Of the nodules, 87.8% were benign and 12.2% malignant; 30% of nodules >20mm were malignant. Number of nodules (P=.14) and granulomatous disease (P=.71) were not related to malignant diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Malignancy was lower than expected in nodules >20mm. Appropriate tracking guidelines for incidentally discovered nodules in histoplasmosis endemic regions must be determined.