ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The present study investigated the effectiveness of stimulation applied at cervical levels on pain and Parkinson's disease (PD) symptoms using either tonic or burst stimulation mode. METHODS: Tonic high cervical spinal cord stimulation (T-HCSCS) was applied on six PD patients suffering from low back pain and failed back surgery syndrome, while burst HCSCS (B-HCSCS) was applied in twelve PD patients to treat primarily motor deficits. Stimulation was applied percutaneously with quadripolar or octapolar electrodes. Clinical evaluation was assessed by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and the Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) scale. Pain was evaluated by a visual analog scale. Evaluations of gait and of performance in a cognitive motor task were performed in some patients subjected to B-HCSCS. One patient who also suffered from severe autonomic cardiovascular dysfunction was investigated to evaluate the effectiveness of B-HCSCS on autonomic functions. RESULTS: B-HCSCS was more effective and had more consistent effects than T-HCSCS in reducing pain. In addition, B-HCSCS improved UPDRS scores, including motor sub-items and tremor and H&Y score. Motor benefits appeared quickly after the beginning of B-HCSCS, in contrast to long latency improvements induced by T-HCSCS. A slight decrease of effectiveness was observed 12 months after implantation. B-HCSCS also improved gait and ability of patients to correctly perform a cognitive-motor task requiring inhibition of a prepared movement. Finally, B-HCSCS ameliorated autonomic control in the investigated patient. CONCLUSIONS: The results support a better usefulness of B-HCSCS compared to T-HCSCS in controlling pain and specific aspects of PD motor and non-motor deficits for at least one year.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Eustachian tube dysfunction is considered a major contributor to chronic middle ear disease. In clinical case series, the results of balloon dilation (balloon Eustachian tuboplasty, BET) as a treatment for Eustachian tube dysfunction have been reported. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze whether patients undergoing planned surgery for chronic middle ear disease would benefit from additional BET. METHODS: In a randomized controlled, patient and observer (not surgeon)-blind clinical study, 100 adult patients with planned surgery for chronic middle ear disease will be investigated. Patients will be randomized into two groups, one of which (50%) will receive additional BET of the affected side during the planned surgery. Eustachian tube function will be evaluated using the Valsalva maneuver and tubomanometry according to Estève, as well as on the basis of patient reports. Various scores will be used as outcome measures, including ETS-5 (Eustachian Tube Score 5), the extended version ETS-7, and the ETDQ-7 (Seven-Item Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire). Follow-up is at 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: From June to December 2015, 162 patients underwent microscopic ear surgery. Inclusion criteria were not fulfilled by 90 patients. Of the remaining 72 patients with chronic middle ear disease, 12 patients (17%) have been randomized so far, 28 (39%) did not exhibit Eustachian tube dysfunction, and 32 (44%) patients could not be included for other reasons. CONCLUSION: The rate of recruitment was lower than expected. Depending on the case number calculations for the patient groups identified in the study for whom BET might be particularly beneficial, multicenter studies in specific disease groups may follow.
Subject(s)
Catheterization, Peripheral/methods , Dilatation/methods , Ear Diseases/diagnosis , Ear Diseases/surgery , Eustachian Tube/surgery , Otologic Surgical Procedures/methods , Adult , Aged, 80 and over , Catheterization, Peripheral/instrumentation , Dilatation/instrumentation , Double-Blind Method , Evidence-Based Medicine , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Otologic Surgical Procedures/instrumentation , Patient Selection , Pilot Projects , Research Design , Treatment Outcome , Young AdultABSTRACT
Supporting patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), using a protective mechanical ventilation strategy characterized by low tidal volume and limitation of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is a standard practice in the intensive care unit. However, these strategies can promote lung de-recruitment, leading to the cyclic closing and reopening of collapsed alveoli and small airways. Recruitment maneuvers (RM) can be used to augment other methods, like positive end-expiratory pressure and positioning, to improve aerated lung volume. Clinical practice varies widely, and the optimal method and patient selection for recruitment maneuvers have not been determined, considerable uncertainty remaining regarding the appropriateness of RM. This review aims to discuss recent findings about the available types of RM, and compare the effectiveness, indications and adverse effects among them, as well as their impact on morbidity and mortality in ARDS patients. Recent developments include experimental and clinical evidence that a stepwise extended recruitment maneuver may cause an improvement in aerated lung volume and decrease the biological impact seen with the traditionally used sustained inflation, with less adverse effects. Prone positioning can reduce mortality in severe ARDS patients and may be an useful adjunct to recruitment maneuvers and advanced ventilatory strategies, such noisy ventilation and BIVENT, which have been useful in providing lung recruitment.
O suporte a pacientes com a Síndrome do Desconforto Respiratório Agudo (SDRA), realizado com baixos volumes correntes e limite da pressão positiva ao final da expiração (PEEP), é o padrão ouro no tratamento de pacientes internados em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva. No entanto, essas estratégias podem promover o desrecrutamento pulmonar levando ao fechamento e reabertura cíclicos de alvéolos colapsados e de pequenas vias aéreas. As manobras de recrutamento (MR) podem ser usadas em conjunto a outros métodos, como a PEEP e posicionamento dos pacientes, para promover melhora no volume pulmonar aerado. Diversos métodos são utilizados na prática clínica, mas o mais adequado e a seleção de qual paciente se beneficiaria de MR ainda não estão estabelecidos. Além disso, ainda permanecem consideráveis incertezas em relação a adequação da MR. Esta revisão objetiva discutir as últimas descobertas acerca das MR existentes e compará-las no que tange a suas eficácias, indicações e complicações. Descobertas recentes incluem evidencias clínicas e experimentais que a manobra de recrutamento em "STEP" pode promover uma melhora do volume pulmonar aerado e reduzir o impacto biológico observado na insulflação sustentada tradicionalmente usada. O posicionamento em prona pode reduzir a mortalidade em pacientes com SDRA grave e ser um coadjuvante nas manobras de recrutamento e estratégias ventilatórias avançadas como a ventilação variável e o BIVENT tem se mostrado úteis em proporcionar recrutamento pulmonar.