Verbal numerical scales are as reliable and sensitive as visual analog scales for rating dyspnea in young and older subjects.

This study compared the use of a simple verbal 0-10 numerical rating scale (verbal NRS) and a visual analog scale (VAS) for the rating of dyspnea during exercise in a group of young and older subjects. Twelve younger (32+/-9 yr) and 12 older (71+/-7 yr) subjects used either the verbal NRS or the VAS in a randomised fashion to rate dyspnea during 60 s of uphill treadmill walking (range 5.6-8.8 km h(-1)) performed at either a low (17% grade) or high workload (26% grade) and then during recovery. Rating scales were evaluated twice on separate days (day 1 and day 2) at each workload. While the verbal NRS scores proved to be reliable throughout exercise and recovery, VAS scores were significantly (p<0.05) lower on day 2 during the low workload test (younger group) and the high workload test (older group). Verbal NRS ratings were consistently greater than VAS ratings at both workloads (p<0.001) for both young and older groups. The intra-class correlation coefficients for rating peak dyspnea using either the VAS or verbal NRS were consistently lower for the older subjects (range: r=0.54-0.67) than the younger subjects (range: r=0.70-0.86). Overall, subjects preferred the verbal NRS to the VAS. These results suggest that the verbal NRS compares favourably with the VAS for rating dyspnea during exercise without mask or mouthpiece. However, when rating peak dyspnea both scales appear less reliable when used by the older compared to young subjects.

Dyspnea and the affective response during exercise training in obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: Dyspnea (SOB), dyspnea-related anxiety (DA), and exercise performance have been shown to improve after exercise training in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). However, there are no published descriptions of the changes in dyspnea intensity or dyspnea-related anxiety during or across the exercise training sessions. OBJECTIVES: To describe and compare the differences in the patterns of change in SOB, DA, and exercise performance during 12 exercise training sessions with and without nurse coaching. METHODS: Forty-five dyspnea-limited patients with COPD were randomly assigned to nurse-monitored (ME) or nurse-coached exercise (CE). SOB and DA were rated on a 200 mm VAS every 2 minutes during each of 12 treadmill training sessions. RESULTS: Warm-up, peak, cool-down, mean SOB, and peak SOB/stage remained constant over the exercise sessions, with increasing exercise performance for both groups over the 12 sessions (p < .001). There was a significant difference in the pattern of mean SOB over time between the ME and CE group (p < . 05). Mean, peak DA, and peak DA/stage showed a rapid decrease within the first 4 sessions (p < . 05) with no significant differences between the groups. Warm-up and cool-down DA remained constant. There were large intra- and inter-subject variations in the rating of dyspnea and dyspnea-related anxiety within and across sessions. CONCLUSIONS: As theoretically proposed, both groups significantly decreased their DA over the training sessions. This decrease was early in the sessions and was not accompanied by a decrease in the SOB. In contrast, subjects maintained a nearly constant mean and peak SOB with increasing exercise performance, suggesting that people may have a dyspnea threshold above which they are unable to tolerate greater dyspnea. Description of the changes in dyspnea and the affective response during training need to be expanded, while studying the type and timing of strategies to enhance the improvement in dyspnea and dyspnea-related anxiety.

Accuracy of recall of dyspnea after exercise training sessions.

BACKGROUND: Although clinicians often rely on patients' retrospective reporting of dyspnea, it is not known if dyspnea scores recalled after exercise are equivalent to dyspnea scores during exercise. The objective of this study was to determine whether patients could accurately recall after exercise the maximum ratings of the intensity of dyspnea and the anxiety associated with it that they experienced during exercise. METHODS: Forty-nine patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (forced expiratory volume in 1 second 0.92 +/- 0.23 L) participating in a randomized clinical trial of the impact of coached versus monitored exercise training on dyspnea rated dyspnea intensity (shortness of breath [SOB]) and dyspnea-related anxiety (DA) on a visual analog scale every 2 minutes during treadmill exercise. After each of 12 training sessions each subject was asked to rate the worst level of the two sensations that they recalled having experienced during exercise. RESULTS: For the groups as a whole, actual maximum scores for SOB and DA during exercise were highly correlated with recalled maximum values after exercise (r > or = 0.85, P < 0.0001) and the average differences were small (0-10.9 mm on a 200-mm scale). However, individual variation was substantial, limiting predictability for individual ratings. CONCLUSIONS: After exercise, patients with COPD as a group can accurately recall the worst SOB and DA that they experienced during exercise. This finding supports the further study and use of retrospective symptom ratings as a method for dyspnea assessment during exercise training in pulmonary rehabilitation.

Obstructive pulmonary disease. The clinician's perspective.

This article reviews the differential diagnosis of obstructive lung disease, including lesions that may mimic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as well as the tools on which the clinician relies for making a proper diagnosis. The clinician's view of the radiologist's role is briefly discussed, but the details of specific radiologic techniques are discussed elsewhere in this issue.

Exercise training decreases dyspnea and the distress and anxiety associated with it. Monitoring alone may be as effective as coaching.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether exercise training with coaching is more effective than exercise training alone in reducing dyspnea and the anxiety and distress associated with it and improving exercise performance, self-efficacy for walking, and dyspnea with activities of daily living. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial of 51 dyspnea-limited patients with COPD assigned to monitored (n = 27) or coached (n = 24) exercise groups. SETTING: Outpatient area of university teaching hospital. INTERVENTION: Both groups completed 12 supervised treadmill training sessions (phase 1) over 4 weeks followed by 8 weeks of home walking (phase 2). The CE group also received coaching during training. MEASUREMENTS: Perceived work of breathing, dyspnea intensity, distress associated with dyspnea, and anxiety associated with dyspnea were rated on a visual analog scale during incremental treadmill testing and after 6-min walks before and after phase 1. Dyspnea with activities of daily living, self-efficacy for walking, state anxiety, and 6-min walks were measured before and after both phases. RESULTS: Dyspnea and the associated distress and anxiety improved significantly for both groups relative to work performed and in relation to ventilation (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between groups in any outcomes. The phase 1 improvement in laboratory dyspnea was accompanied by improvements in dyspnea with activities of daily living (p < 0.01) and self-efficacy for home walking (p < 0.01) that were sustained during the home phase. CONCLUSIONS: Coaching with exercise training was no more effective than exercise training alone in improving exercise performance, dyspnea, and the anxiety and distress associated with it, dyspnea with activities, and self-efficacy for walking.

Differentiation between dyspnea and its affective components.

This study investigated whether people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can differentiate distress and anxiety associated with dyspnea from the intensity of dyspnea and the perceived effort of breathing. Fifty-two subjects with COPD rated their perception of the individual components of dyspnea on a 200 mm visual analog scale at rest, after a 6-min walk (6MD), and every 2 min during an incremental treadmill test (ET). Subjects differentiated among the four dyspnea components at the end of the 6MD (p < .0001) and during ET (at rest, p < 0.001; at 75% VO2 max, p < 0.0001; and at end exercise, p < 0.0001). Intensity was significantly related to perceived effort of breathing (p < .0001), as distress was to anxiety (p < .0001), suggesting that each pair measures similar components. Subjects were able to differentiate their affective response to dyspnea from the intensity of the symptom. Measurement of a patient's affective response to dyspnea may improve the selection of specific treatments and validity of outcomes.

The pulmonary manifestations of AIDS-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical, radiographic, and autopsy features of AIDS-related non-Hodgkin's Iymphoma (NHL) with pulmonary involvement. DESIGN: Retrospective series of patients with HIV infection and NHL with pathologically documented lung or pleural involvement. SETTING: A university and a county hospital in San Francisco. PATIENTS: Thirty-eight patients with HIV infection and NHL involving the lungs or pleura. RESULTS: Most patients had respiratory symptoms (87%) and signs (84%). The majority of patients had advanced HIV infection, with a mean CD4 count of 67 (+/- 65). The most common laboratory abnormalities were elevated lactate dehydrogenase value (89%), elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (94%), hematologic abnormalities (95%), and widened alveolar-arterial gradient (89%). Thoracic CT revealed pulmonary nodules (50%), lobar infiltrates (27%), and lung mass (19%) as the most common parenchymal abnormalities. Pleural effusion (68%) and thoracic lymphadenopathy (54%) were unexpectedly common. Autopsy confirmed the high prevalence of pulmonary nodules (30%), airspace disease (35%), and lung mass (25%). Pleural effusions (65%) and thoracic lymphadenopathy (60%) were also common at autopsy. The respiratory system was the most common extranodal site (71%) in patients with AIDS-related NHL undergoing autopsy. Of the bronchoscopic procedures performed, transbronchial biopsy had the highest diagnostic yield (58%) for lymphoma. BAL and bronchial brushing were never diagnostic. Pleural fluid cytologic study and open lung biopsy specimens also had high diagnostic yields (75% each). CONCLUSIONS: The lung is a common extranodal site in AIDS-related NHL. NHL with pulmonary involvement occurs primarily in patients with advanced HIV infection. Most patients have nodules, infiltrates, or masses by thoracic imaging and autopsy. Thoracic lymphadenopathy is much more common than previously believed. Transbronchial biopsy, pleural fluid cytologic study, and open lung biopsy are the most useful diagnostic procedures.

Desensitization and guided mastery: treatment approaches for the management of dyspnea.

Dyspnea is a frequent and distressing symptom for people with cardiopulmonary disease. Activity tolerance with presumably less dyspnea has been shown to increase after patients have been exposed to higher than usual dyspnea in a safe, monitored environment. Authors have suggested this decrease in dyspnea with activity may be due to a process of "desensitization" to the anxiety associated with the shortness of breath. The use of desensitization for other symptoms and phobias has evolved over time from an exposure-anxiety approach to a coping-mastery paradigm, labeled by some as guided mastery. This article reviews selected research studies that have used desensitization and guided mastery to treat other symptoms and phobias. Components of these two approaches are described and clinical strategies incorporating the two techniques with pulmonary patients during exercise-induced dyspnea are presented. A conceptual model that relates the two treatment approaches to the perception of the symptom and health outcomes is proposed.

Oxygen may improve dyspnea and endurance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and only mild hypoxemia.

Oxygen (O2) has been reported to improve exercise tolerance in some patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) despite only mild resting hypoxemia (PaO2 greater than 60 mm Hg). To confirm these prior studies and evaluate potential mechanisms of benefit, we measured dyspnea scores by numeric rating scale during cycle ergometry endurance testing and correlated the severity of dyspnea with right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) measured by Doppler echocardiography during a separate supine incremental exercise test. Both sets of exercise were performed according to a randomized double-blind crossover protocol in which patients breathed compressed air or 40% O2. We studied 12 patients with severe COPD (FEV1 0.89 +/- 0.09 L [mean +/- SEM], FEV1/FVC 37 +/- 2%, DLCO 9.8 +/- 1.5 ml/min/mm Hg[47% of predicted], PaO2 71 +/- 2.6 mm Hg). With endurance testing on compressed air, PaO2 did not change significantly in the group as whole (postexercise PaO2 63 +/- 5.1 mm Hg, p = NS), but did fall to less than 55 mm Hg in four patients from this group. Duration of exercise increased on 40% O2 from 10.3 +/- 1.6 to 14.2 +/- 1.5 min (p = 0.005), and the rise in dyspnea scores was delayed. Oxygen delayed the rise in RVSP with incremental exercise in all patients and lowered the mean RVSP at maximum exercise from 71 +/- 8 to 64 +/- 7 mm Hg (p less than 0.03). Improvement in duration of exercise correlated with decrease in dyspnea (r2 = 0.66, p = 0.001) but not with decreases in heart rate, minute ventilation, or RVSP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pulmonary hypertension: pulmonary flow quantification and flow profile analysis with velocity-encoded cine MR imaging.

Velocity-encoded cine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging provides two-dimensional velocity maps of a cross-sectional area of a vessel. Pulmonary flow and flow patterns in the main pulmonary artery were analyzed with velocity-encoded cine MR imaging and Doppler echocardiography in 10 patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH), one patient with a dilated main pulmonary artery, and 10 healthy subjects, and these findings were compared. Peak systolic velocity measured with velocity-encoded cine MR imaging was similar to that measured with Doppler echocardiography in healthy subjects and in patients with PH. Velocity-encoded cine MR imaging demonstrated substantial differences in velocity across the vascular lumen in PH. The flow pattern in healthy subjects was different than that in patients with PH; the latter had lower peak systolic velocity and greater retrograde flow after middle to late systole. The retrograde flow observed in patients with PH reflected hemodynamic events, since it was inversely proportional to pulmonary flow volume and directly proportional to pulmonary resistance and cross-sectional area of the vessel. Velocity-encoded cine MR imaging demonstrates an inhomogeneous flow profile in PH and may serve as a noninvasive method to estimate pulmonary vascular resistance.

Pulmonary infiltrates associated with sulindac therapy.

Pulmonary infiltrates, cough, dyspnea, and fever developed in a 62-year-old woman with chronic degenerative arthritis who had been receiving sulindac therapy for six months. Her pulmonary signs and symptoms resolved upon withholding the drug. Inadvertent rechallenge resulted in rapid recurrence of respiratory symptoms and pulmonary infiltrates. This constellation of clinical findings provides strong evidence of isolated pulmonary reactions as a complication of sulindac therapy.

Doppler echocardiography and ultrafast cine computed tomography during dynamic exercise in chronic parenchymal pulmonary disease.

In an effort to better understand the cardiac contribution to exercise limitation in chronic lung disease, 21 patients with advanced chronic pulmonary parenchymal disease and 10 normal control subjects were evaluated for changes in right ventricular (RV) pressure, volume and function during incremental, symptom-limited supine bicycle exercise. Patients underwent sequential exercise tests with Doppler echocardiography and ultrafast cine computed tomography (CT). RV systolic pressure during exercise was determined by saline-enhanced Doppler of tricuspid regurgitation. RV ejection fraction, end-diastolic volume, stroke volume and cardiac index were obtained by CT at rest and peak exercise. Sixteen of the 21 study patients also exercised on high-flow oxygen. In the control subjects RV systolic pressure increased from 21 +/- 6 mm Hg (mean +/- standard deviation) at rest to 32 +/- 8 mm Hg at peak exercise, whereas in patients with lung disease, RV systolic pressure increased from 42 +/- 17 to 81 +/- 26 mm Hg (both p less than 0.01). Compared with the control subjects, the patients with lung disease had significantly lower mean values for RV ejection fraction at rest (47 +/- 7 vs 55 +/- 7%) and at peak exercise (47 +/- 9 vs 57 +/- 3%, respectively, both p less than 0.05). The patients who demonstrated oxyhemoglobin desaturation during exercise showed the most abnormal cardiac responses, with marked increases in mean RV systolic pressure, decreases in mean RV ejection fraction and blunted increases in cardiac index and RV stroke volume. Although acute oxygen supplementation was associated with a slight decrease in RV systolic pressure at peak exercise and a longer duration of exercise, there was no significant improvement in RV function. Doppler echocardiography and CT provide complementary and potentially useful information about right-sided heart pressures and RV ejection fraction during exercise in patients with advanced chronic lung disease. Oxyhemoglobin desaturation during exercise is a marker for the most abnormal pulmonary vascular reserve, as indicated by RV contractile dysfunction and limited ability to increase cardiac index.

Bilateral carotid body resection for the relief of dyspnea in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Physiologic and clinical observations in three patients.

For many patients with advanced chronic airflow limitation (COPD) the treatment of dyspnea remains inadequate despite medications, rehabilitation programs, and supplemental oxygen. Bilateral carotid body resection (BCBR) is a controversial operation which has been reported anecdotally to relieve dyspnea in such patients, but its risks and long-term effects are not known. We studied pulmonary function and the ventilatory response to exercise of three severely dyspneic COPD patients who had chosen independently and without our knowledge to undergo this operation. All three patients reported improvement in dyspnea following BCBR despite the absence of improvement in their severe airflow limitation (mean FEV1 = 0.71 L before and 0.67 L after BCBR). The three patients died 6, 18 and 36 months after the removal of their carotid bodies, still convinced of the efficacy of their surgery. Their reported relief of dyspnea was associated with substantial decreases in minute ventilation and deterioration in arterial blood gases. Arterial blood gases worsened both at rest (PO2 fell from 57 to 45 mm Hg; PCO2 rose from 45 to 57 mm Hg) and during identical steady state exercise (at peak exercise, PO2 fell from 46 to 37 mm Hg and PCO2 rose from 50 to 61 mm Hg) postoperatively. Total minute ventilation decreased postoperatively both at rest (-3.4 L/min, -25 percent) and with exercise (-9.4 L/min, -39 percent) primarily because of decreases in respiratory rate (from 21 to 16 breaths/min at rest and from 25 to 18 breaths/min with exercise), and this was associated with decreases in both oxygen uptake (-26 percent) and carbon dioxide production (-22 percent) for the same external exercise workload. Whether the reported improvement in dyspnea was due to decrease in ventilation resulting from decrease in respiratory drive, a surgical placebo effect or some other unestablished effect of removal of the carotid bodies deserves further study.

Constrictive pericarditis presenting as pleural effusion of unknown origin.

Despite the known association of pleural effusion with constrictive pericarditis, the presentation of constrictive pericarditis as pleural effusion of unknown origin has, to our knowledge, never been described. After evaluating such a case, we retrospectively analyzed all cases of established constrictive pericarditis seen in this institution in the last six years. The clinical and laboratory features of this cohort of 30 patients are similar to those of other reported series. Pleural effusion was present in 18 (60%) of 30 cases. In six (12%) of the 18 cases, pleural effusion was a major component of the clinical presentation, and in three (10%) of these six cases, the persistence of pleural effusion of unknown origin was the indication for referral to this institution. Analysis of pleural fluid in four cases revealed three exudates and one transudate. We believe this is the first report of unexplained pleural effusion as the presenting manifestation of constrictive pericarditis, and this diagnosis should be added to the list of causes of unexplained pleural effusion.

Percutaneous drainage of an infected lung bulla in a patient receiving positive pressure ventilation.

Percutaneous drainage of an infected bulla was performed under fluoroscopy in a patient who was receiving positive pressure ventilation. The procedure was without complications, and the patient was later weaned from mechanical ventilation.