Tracheal resection in patients post-COVID-19 is associated with high reintervention rate and early restenosis.

Objectives: A remarkable increase in the number of patients presenting with tracheal complications after prolonged endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation for the management of the severe COVID-19-associated respiratory failure has been observed. In this study, we assessed the postoperative outcomes of tracheal resection in patients with COVID-19. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study in which all patients with a history of prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation due to COVID-19 infection, who were treated with tracheal resection and reconstruction, were included. The primary objective was in-hospital mortality and postoperative reintervention rate. The secondary objective was the time to tracheal restenosis. Results: During the 16-month study period, 11 patients with COVID-19 with tracheal complications underwent tracheal resection with end-to-end anastomosis. Mean patient age was 51.5 ± 9 years, and the majority were male (9 patients). Eight patients were referred for management of postintubation tracheal stenosis, and 3 patients were referred for tracheoesophageal fistula. Eight patients had a history of tracheostomy during the COVID-19 infection hospitalization. There was 1 in-hospital death (9.1%) due to septicemia in the intensive care unit approximately 2 months after the operation. Postoperatively, 32 reinterventions were required for tracheal restenosis due to granulation tissue formation. The risk for reintervention was higher during the first 3 months after the index operation. Four patients developed tracheal restenosis (36.4%), and 2 of them required endotracheal stent placement during the follow-up period. Conclusions: Tracheal resection and reconstruction after COVID-19 infection are associated with a high reintervention rate postoperatively. Such patients require close follow-up in expert interventional pulmonology units, and physicians should be on high alert for the early diagnosis and optimal management of tracheal restenosis.

Development and validation of SCOPE score: A clinical score to predict COVID-19 pneumonia progression to severe respiratory failure.

Most patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) experience mild, non-specific symptoms, but many develop severe symptoms associated with an excessive inflammatory response. Elevated plasma concentrations of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) provide early warning of progression to severe respiratory failure (SRF) or death, but access to suPAR testing may be limited. The Severe COvid Prediction Estimate (SCOPE) score, derived from circulating concentrations of C-reactive protein, D- dimers, interleukin-6, and ferritin among patients not receiving non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation during the SAVE-MORE study, offers predictive accuracy for progression to SRF or death within 14 days comparable to that of a suPAR concentration of ≥6 ng/mL (area under receiver operator characteristic curve 0.81 for both). The SCOPE score is validated in two similar independent cohorts. A SCOPE score of 6 or more is an alternative to suPAR for predicting progression to SRF or death within 14 days of hospital admission for pneumonia, and it can be used to guide treatment decisions.

The Correlation of Sit-to-Stand Tests with COPD Assessment Test and GOLD Staging Classification.

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) ABCD classification tool has been used to assess the symptom burden and exacerbation risk of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). An area requiring further exploration is the relationship between the GOLD classification's basic components and the measurements acquired by Sit-to-Stand tests (STST). We aimed to study the relationship between STST and the component of the GOLD classification tool. This study was conducted on a sample of 42 COPD subjects with patient history, COPD assessment test (CAT) and spirometry. 5STST performance time and the number 30s-STST repetitions showed differences of statistical significance in COPD subjects considered to be more symptomatic and in subjects with high risk of future exacerbations. Both STSTs correlated significantly with forced expiratory volume in one second % predicted (FEV1%), CAT, number of acute exacerbations in the past year and number of hospitalized exacerbations in the past year. STST performance correlates significantly with items of the CAT questionnaire that assess breathlessness, limitation of activities, confidence and lack of energy. Using multivariate analysis, age, FEV1% and CAT score manifested the strongest negative association with STST performance. 5STST performance time and the number 30s-STST repetitions in COPD patients correlates with the level of symptoms and the risk of future exacerbations that define groups A-D based on GOLD 2018 classification tool (at the time of data acquisition). The correlation of STST performance with CAT score involves specific items of the questionnaire that assess breathlessness, limitation of activities, confidence and lack of energy.

Presentation of pulmonary tuberculosis and actinomyces co-infection as a lung mass: a literature review and unique case report.

Parenchymal lung infections occasionally present with clinical symptoms and radiological findings similar to lung malignancy. Pulmonary actinomycosis is a rare condition of its own right, let alone in coexistence with tuberculosis. We report a case of a man presenting with hemoptysis alongside a chest computed tomography compatible with lung cancer. The diagnosis, after removal of a large endobronchial mass with flexible bronchoscopy and cryon, was a concomitant infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Actinomyces odontoliticus. In the literature, there are few reported cases with concomitant tuberculosis and actinomycosis. To our knowledge, such radical treatment without surgical intervention has not been reported in the past.

Spirometric Values of Greek People and Comparison with ECSC and GLI Values in COPD People.

BACKGROUND: During the past few years, the use of criteria introduced by Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) is recommended for the diagnosis and classification of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease(COPD),taking into account the values of a Forced Expiratory Volume In 1 second (FEV1) and a Forced Expiratory Volume In 1 second (FEV1) to Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) ratio. In Europe, the reference values of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), that were originally developed in 1993 are still used. AIM OF THE STUDY: The study aimed to carry out measurement of spirometric values in a healthy, non smoking Greek population, development of local equations and comparison with ECSC and Global Lung Initiative(GLI) equations, in order to see if there is a need for separate ones in everyday use. METHODS: Normal predicted values for FEV1 and FEV1/FVC% were obtained from a group of 500 healthy subjects, aged 18-89 years. In addition, a group of 124 COPD patients, with no other comorbidities was studied. Patients were classified according to GOLD criteria in four groups with ECSC, GLI predicted values or with our own predicted values. RESULTS: The statistical analysis has revealed that there is no significant difference among the three sets of predicted values and no statistical difference was detected among the classification of COPD patients. CONCLUSION: It is shown that the 3 sets of predicted values are almost identical, despite the fact that they have been collected from different study populations.Αccording to the study, there is no need in recalculating values for Greek population.

The safety of indacaterol for the treatment of COPD.

INTRODUCTION: Bronchodilators, namely long-acting inhaled ß2-agonists and long-acting muscarinic antagonists, are the first-line medications for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The safety of these medicines is of great concern since COPD patients usually have other co-morbidities such as cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases. Areas covered: In this review we present information about the safety and the use of indacaterol in COPD. Indacaterol is the first once-daily, long-acting inhaled ß2-agonist approved for COPD. We provide data about its mechanism of action as well as, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokynetics. Moreover, we present the available literature data focused on the the safety of indacaterol. Data from post-marketing studies are presented and also data from comparative reviews and meta-analysis. Expert opinion: Indacaterol's safety is very favorable since in controlled trials it was similar to placebo. Nevertheless, physicians must be alerted to use indacaterol only according to its approved indications They must be aware of the possible adverse events since side effects may appear when the medicine is used for a prolonged period of time.

The prognostic efficacy of beta2-microglobulin in acute pulmonary embolism.

Our aim was to prospectively assess the prognostic value of beta2-microglobulin (b2-M) in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). We conducted a prospective study of 109 patients admitted in a pulmonary clinic due to acute PE. A panel of inflammatory markers including b2-M white blood cell (WBC) count and C-reactive protein (CRP) was determined for each patient. In this preliminary study, baseline b2-M levels significantly correlated with the impairment of oxygenation and with all the parameters that are used for the early risk stratification of patients. In multivariate analysis, patients' age and baseline b2-M levels were significantly associated with an increased risk of death. These findings require further prospective validation.

Bronchiectasis exacerbations: The role of atypical bacteria, respiratory syncytial virus and pulmonary function tests.

BACKGROUND: Aside from the known role of common bacteria, there is a paucity of data regarding the possible role of atypical bacteria and viruses in exacerbations of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. OBJECTIVE: To explore the possible role of atypical bacteria (namely, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as causative agents of bronchiectasis exacerbations. METHODS: A cohort of 33 patients was studied over a two-year period (one year follow-up for each patient). Polymerase chain reaction for the detection of M pneumoniae, C pneumoniae and RSV in bronchoalveolar lavage samples were performed during all visits. Antibody titres (immunoglobulin [Ig]M and IgG) against the aforementioned pathogens were also measured. In addition, cultures for common bacteria and mycobacteria were performed from the bronchoalveolar lavage samples. RESULTS: Fifteen patients experienced a total of 19 exacerbations during the study period. Although RSV was detected by polymerase chain reaction during stable visits in four patients, it was never detected during an exacerbation. M pneumoniae and C pneumoniae were never detected at stable visits or during exacerbations. IgM antibody titres for these three pathogens were negative in all patient visits. CONCLUSIONS: Atypical pathogens and RSV did not appear to be causative agents of bronchiectasis exacerbations.

Respiratory failure due to infliximab induced interstitial lung disease.

Although poorly understood, interstitial lung disease has been reported as a possible complication of tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors. We report a case of interstitial lung disease in a 64-year-old man with psoriasis 3 weeks after the initiation of infliximab treatment. The patient had received two fortnightly infusions of infliximab following a short course of methotrexate. Thoracic computed tomography showed bilateral ground glass and interstitial infiltrates, while the results of microbiology and immunologic workup were negative. Likewise, bronchoalveolar lavage detected neither typical nor atypical pathogens. Infliximab-induced interstitial lung injury was suspected and corticosteroid therapy was administered which resulted in rapid clinical and radiological improvement. This is one of the few reported cases of interstitial lung disease due to infliximab in the psoriasis population. The patient had no pre-existing lung pathology, while his previous exposure to methotrexate was minimal and was not temporally associated with the induction of interstitial lung disease.

Lung mass caused by Phoma exigua.

We describe a well documented case of a fatal Phoma exigua lung infection in a patient with acute myeloid leukaemia and diabetes. The infection was histology and culture proven and a PCR assay was developed for detecting P. exigua DNA in deparaffinized lung-biopsy material. Confirmation of rare fungal pathogen infections requires a multidisciplinary approach involving clinical observations, mycology, histopathology and radiology.

Severe community-acquired pneumonia with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure due to primary infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae in a previously healthy adult.

Community-acquired pneumonia due to Chlamydia pneumoniae is associated with a benign clinical course. Severe, life-threatening pneumonia is rare and occurs only in immunocompromised hosts. We report a case of severe pneumonia complicated by acute hypoxemic respiratory failure due to primary infection with C. pneumoniae in a previously healthy 46-year-old woman.

Smoking related to anxiety and depression in Greek medical staff.

We assessed the relation of anxiety and depression to smoking behavior in a sample of 80 physicians and surgeons, using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory. 27 doctors were nonsmokers, 14 were former smokers, and 39 were current smokers. Current smokers showed significantly higher Anxiety and Depression scores compared to nonsmokers and former smokers, while the latter presented significantly lower Anxiety scores than nonsmokers. In current smokers, the daily quota of cigarettes was not correlated with Anxiety or Depression scores. From our results we can hypothesize that, among medical staff, smoking behavior is more anxiety-related than depression-related. In conclusion, we believe that interventions such as stress management techniques could be effective in lessening Anxiety and diminishing the need for relief searched for in smoking.