[Guideline for Long-Term Oxygen Therapy - S2k-Guideline Published by the German Respiratory Society]. / Leitlinie zur Langzeit-Sauerstofftherapie.

Long-term oxygen therapy is of great importance both for reducing mortality and for improving performance in patients with chronic lung diseases. The prerequisites for Long-term oxygen therapy are adequate diagnostics and clearly defined indication. A causal distinction into chronic hypoxaemic and hypercapnic respiratory failure is reasonable, from which the differential indication for non-invasive ventilation results.The revised guideline covers the diagnostics and indication of chronic lung and heart diseases, the role of oxygen in terminal illness and gives a detailed description of available oxygen devices. The guideline is intended to help avoid undersupply, oversupply and false prescriptions. Furthermore, the chapter "Postacute Oxygen Therapy" discusses the procedure, relevant in everyday life, but not yet clearly defined, for prescribing oxygen therapy for the home at the end of an inpatient stay. Another important point, the correct prescription of mobile oxygen systems, is also presented in the guideline. This document is a revised version of the guideline for longterm oxygen therapy and replaces the version of 2008.

[48-Year-Old Triathlete with Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia: Successful and Safe Treatment with Oxygen and CPAP]. / 48-jähriger Triathlet mit schwerer COVID-19-Pneumonie: erfolgreiche und sichere Behandlung mit Sauerstoff und CPAP.

We present the case of a 48-year old man, a triathlet, with severe COVID-19 and extensive bilateral pneumonia. On day 7 since onset of symptoms, the patient had fever, cough, rheumatic pain, dyspnea as well as severe hypoxemic respiratory failure (PaO2 49,9 mmHg, PaCO2 35,7 mmHg, Horovitz-Index 130). CT of the lung showed extensive bilateral ground glass opacities.The patient was treated according to a predefined standard, including oxygen supplementation and, after intermittent worsening, with CPAP-ventilation. The patient improved and could be discharged with normal blood gases at ambient air after 12 days of hospitalization. Six weeks after discharge the patient was fully recovered and lung function as well as CT of the lungs were normal.Our case demonstrates that invasive ventilation can successfully be avoided in patients with severe hypoxemia caused by COVID-19 with bilateral pneumonia.

[Position Paper for the State of the Art Application of Respiratory Support in Patients with COVID-19 - German Respiratory Society]. / Positionspapier zur praktischen Umsetzung der apparativen Differenzialtherapie der akuten respiratorischen Insuffizienz bei COVID-19.

Against the background of the pandemic caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2, the German Society for Pneumology and Respiratory Medicine (DGP e.V.), in cooperation with other associations, has designated a team of experts in order to answer the currently pressing questions about therapy strategies in dealing with COVID-19 patients suffering from acute respiratory insufficiency (ARI).The position paper is based on the current knowledge that is evolving daily. Many of the published and cited studies require further review, also because many of them did not undergo standard review processes.Therefore, this position paper is also subject to a continuous review process and will be further developed in cooperation with the other professional societies.This position paper is structured into the following five topics:1. Pathophysiology of acute respiratory insufficiency in patients without immunity infected with SARS-CoV-22. Temporal course and prognosis of acute respiratory insufficiency during the course of the disease3. Oxygen insufflation, high-flow oxygen, non-invasive ventilation and invasive ventilation with special consideration of infectious aerosol formation4. Non-invasive ventilation in ARI5. Supply continuum for the treatment of ARIKey points have been highlighted as core statements and significant observations. Regarding the pathophysiological aspects of acute respiratory insufficiency (ARI), the pulmonary infection with SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 runs through three phases: early infection, pulmonary manifestation and severe hyperinflammatory phase.There are differences between advanced COVID-19-induced lung damage and those changes seen in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndromes (ARDS) as defined by the Berlin criteria. In a pathophysiologically plausible - but currently not yet histopathologically substantiated - model, two types (L-type and H-type) are distinguished, which correspond to an early and late phase. This distinction can be taken into consideration in the differential instrumentation in the therapy of ARI.The assessment of the extent of ARI should be carried out by an arterial or capillary blood gas analysis under room air conditions and must include the calculation of the oxygen supply (measured from the variables of oxygen saturation, the Hb value, the corrected values of the Hüfner number and the cardiac output). In principle, aerosols can cause transmission of infectious viral particles. Open systems or leakage systems (so-called vented masks) can prevent the release of respirable particles. Procedures in which the invasive ventilation system must be opened, and endotracheal intubation must be carried out are associated with an increased risk of infection.The protection of personnel with personal protective equipment should have very high priority because fear of contagion must not be a primary reason for intubation. If the specifications for protective equipment (eye protection, FFP2 or FFP-3 mask, gown) are adhered to, inhalation therapy, nasal high-flow (NHF) therapy, CPAP therapy or NIV can be carried out according to the current state of knowledge without increased risk of infection to the staff. A significant proportion of patients with respiratory failure presents with relevant hypoxemia, often also caused by a high inspiratory oxygen fraction (FiO2) including NHF, and this hypoxemia cannot be not completely corrected. In this situation, CPAP/NIV therapy can be administered under use of a mouth and nose mask or a respiratory helmet as therapy escalation, as long as the criteria for endotracheal intubation are not fulfilled.In acute hypoxemic respiratory insufficiency, NIV should be performed in an intensive care unit or in a comparable unit by personnel with appropriate expertise. Under CPAP/NIV, a patient can deteriorate rapidly. For this reason, continuous monitoring with readiness to carry out intubation must be ensured at all times. If CPAP/NIV leads to further progression of ARI, intubation and subsequent invasive ventilation should be carried out without delay if no DNI order is in place.In the case of patients in whom invasive ventilation, after exhausting all guideline-based measures, is not sufficient, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation procedure (ECMO) should be considered to ensure sufficient oxygen supply and to remove CO2.

Lazarus-type tumour response to therapy with nivolumab for sarcomatoid carcinomas of the lung.

Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (psc) is a rare subtype of non-small-cell lung carcinoma with a poor prognosis and poor response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. A previous study reported that psc expresses high levels of PD-L1, suggesting the potential efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in these tumours. We report 2 cases of patients with a lung sarcomatoid carcinoma. Both patients initially underwent curative lung resection, but developed early recurrent disease. Because PD-L1 was highly expressed in the tumour cells, we initiated therapy with nivolumab, which showed good efficacy, almost complete radiologic tumour remission, and a remarkable improvement in the condition of those patients. Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting PD-1 might be a valuable therapy option for pscs.

[Positionpaper on Telemonitoring in Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders]. / Positionspapier zum Telemonitoring bei schlafbezogenen Atmungsstörungen.

The use of telemonitoring in the care of patients with Sleep-related Breathing Disorders (SBD) can enhance medical support significantly. Telemonitoring aims at helping physicians to detect therapy problems early and thus improve patients' therapy adherence. Diagnostics and therapy decisions in the telemonitoring process nevertheless remain the responsibility of sleep specialists. The selection of data monitored, their evaluation and resulting consequences fall to the physician, who makes decisions and prescribes therapy in consultation with the patient. In light of professional legal and ethical requirements, it must be ensured that the extensive changes to the process flow in sleep medicine are designed in a way to guarantee high-quality patient care. In this position paper, the German Sleep Society, the German Respiratory Society, the Association of Pneumological Hospitals and the Federal Association of German Pneumologists comment on important aspects for implementation of telemonitoring for SRBD and describe the basic conditions required for its use.

[Guideline (S2k, AWMF) of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Pneumologie und Beatmungsmedizin and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Arbeitsmedizin und Umweltmedizin "Diagnostics and Expert Opinion in the Occupational Disease No. 4101 Silicosis (Including Coal Worker's Pneumoconiosis)"]. / S2k-Leitlinie nach AWMF-Schema der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Pneumologie und Beatmungsmedizin und der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Arbeitsmedizin und Umweltmedizin "Diagnostik und Begutachtung der Berufskrankheit Nr. 4101 Quarzstaublungenerkrankung (Silikose) der Berufskrankheitenverordnung".

During the last 1.5 years an update of the guideline on silicosis was made by an interdisciplinary working group. New medical and scientific knowledge and the experience in expert opinion practice were taken into account.By preparing the initial guideline in 2010 standardization of diagnostics and adaption of the "Moers convention" which was not based on medical knowledge was in the focus, whereas the current update deals with fine emendation and extension, especially of the compensation rate (adaption with the Reichenhall recommendation).The diagnosis of silicosis (including mixed dust pneumoconiosis) is based on a detailed occupational history, and predominantly on the typical radiological findings. However, at initial diagnosis the standardized LD-HRCT takes an important role because of its high sensitivity and specificity. Exceptional cases are those with characteristic findings in chest X-ray follow-up. Correspondingly, it is mentioned in the guideline: "The standardized appraisal of the Low-Dose-Volume HRCT requires application of the CT classification (ICOERD, International Classification of Occupational and Environmental Respiratory diseases). In order to diagnose silicosis in CT scan opacities with sharp borders in both central upper lung fields and their circumferencies have to be documented. By comparing with ILO standard radiographs at least profusion category 1 in the right and left upper lung fields has to be reached (total profusion category 2)."The pathologic minimal requirement for the diagnosis of silicosis which has undergone controversial discussion has now also been defined. Corresponding to Hnizdo et al. 2000 it is now mentioned: "Finding of less than 5 silicotic granuloma per lung lobe by palpation is regarded as insignificant." This is a convention and not a threshold based on detailed medical scientific and statistical studies; it is based on extended experience in the South African gold mines.This guideline also deals with silicotic hilar (and sometimes mediastinial) lymph nodes; according to the guideline working group they do not closely correlate with the degree of pulmonary involvement. Extended conglomerating and enduring lymph-node processes may lead to dislocation of the hili with impairment of large bronchi and vessels. Shell-like calcifications dominating in the periphery of lymph nodes produce so-called egg-shell hili.The paragraph on exercise testing is now extended: if neither ergometry nor spiroergometry can be performed a 6 minute walking test by measuring oxygen saturation should be done.Furthermore, in individual expert opinion examinations right heart catheterization (the patient is not obliged to give informed consent) may be recommended, if echo cardiography gives evidence for pulmonary hypertension or if it is difficult to differentiate between right and left heart failure. The presence of pulmonary hypertension which is of prognostic relevance has to be considered when grading reduction in earning capacity.For interpretation of spirometry values the new GLI reference values has to be applied. Grading of impairment is due to the recommendation of the DGP.According to current medical scientific knowledge it is unclear, whether certain disorders of the rheumatic group such is scleroderma or Caplan syndrome which are sometimes associated with silicosis (or coal workers' pneumoconiosis) belong in toto to the occupational disease number 4101 (silicosis). Within this context, additional studies are needed to clarify the role of occupational quartz exposure and other risk factors.The guideline working group hopes that this update will help to optimize diagnostics and expert opinion of silicotic patients.

[Standardization of spirometry: 2015 update. Published by German Atemwegsliga, German Respiratory Society and German Society of Occupational and Environmental Medicine]. / Leitlinie zur Spirometrie. Leitlinie der Deutschen Atemwegsliga, der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Pneumologie und Beatmungsmedizin und der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Arbeitsmedizin und Umweltmedizin zur Spirometrie.

Spirometry is a simple test and considered the gold standard in lung function. An obstructive ventilatory defect is a disproportionate reduction of maximal airflow from the lung in relation to the maximal volume that can be displaced from the lung. It implies airway narrowing and is defined by a reduced FEV1/FVC ratio below the 5th percentile of the predicted value (lower limit of normal, LLN). A restrictive disorder may be suspected when vital capacity (FVC) is reduced and FEV1/FVC is normal. It is definitely proven, however, only by a decrease in TLC below the 5th percentile of predicted value (LLN). The measurement of TLC by body plethysmography is necessary to confirm or exclude a restrictive defect or hyperinflation of the lung when FVC is below the LLN. 2012 a task force of the ERS published new reference values based on 74,187 records from healthy non-smoking males and females from 26 countries. The new reference equations for the 3-95 age range are now available that include appropriate age-dependent mean values and lower limits of normal (LLN). This presentation aims at providing the reader with recommendations dealing with standardization and interpretation of spirometry.

[Severe disseminated Mycobacterium bovis BCG infection as a consequence of intravesical BCG therapy: diagnostic challenges and therapeutic options]. / Schwere disseminierte Infektion durch Mycobacterium bovis BCG als Folge einer intravesikalen BCG-Therapie: Diagnostische Herausforderungen und therapeutische Optionen.

We present the case of a 65-year-old patient with superficial carcinoma of the bladder who developed systemic inflammatory reaction as a result of a severe disseminated infection with M. bovis BCG after intravesical instillation of BCG. Besides the recommended antituberculosis therapy, considering the resistance of M. bovis to PZA, we discuss here the option of using steroids in the therapeutic management of this patient.

[Medical therapy of heart and lung diseases. Effects on the respective other organ]. / Medikamentöse Therapie von Herz- und Lungenerkrankungen. Effekte auf das jeweils andere Organ.

Many patients suffer from both heart and lung diseases. The choice of medical drugs should not only be driven by the clinical and prognostic effects on the target organ but should also be selected based on the effects on the respective other organ. Beta blockers and statins have both beneficial and harmful effects on the respiratory system. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and amiodarone can cause severe lung damage. Low-dose thiazides and calcium antagonists are first-line medications in hypertensive asthma patients but beta blockers should be avoided. Theophyline should be used with caution in patients with known cardiac disease. Glucocorticosteroids can cause cardiovascular symptoms while the phosphodiesterase inhibitor roflumilast appears to have no relevant cardiovascular side effects. Anticholinergic drugs have both favorable and unfavorable cardiovascular (side) effects. Short-acting beta-2 sympathomimetic drugs (SABA) and macrolides in particular can trigger arrhythmia and some SABAs are associated with a higher incidence of myocardial infarction. Detailed knowledge of the effects of drugs used for the treatment of lung and heart diseases on the respective other organ and the associated complications and long-term effects are essential in providing optimal medical care to the many patients who present with both respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

[Foreign body removal with Roth-Net®]. / Endobronchiale Fremdkörperentfernung mittels Roth-Net®

There are different tools for the removal of endobronchial foreign bodies. The Roth-Net® is a further development of the Dormia basket. It enables an easy and sure retraction of a foreign body from the bronchial system. This will be presented in a case report.

[Effect of Inhalation of Tobramycin for 12 Months on Reduction of Hospitalisation Rate in Severe COPD]. / Inhalation von Tobramycin über 12 Monate zur Senkung der Hospitalisationsrate bei schwerer COPD mit gehäuften Hospitalisationen.

INTRODUCTION: Bacterial colonisation in stable disease of severe COPD and bronchiectasis can cause recurrent hospital treatment, which has a negative impact on the patient's prognosis. A multicentre study has investigated if daily inhalation of tobramycin for one year would lower the number of hospitalisations in severe COPD. METHODS: 44 patients with severe COPD [FEV1 % of predicted value: 42.8 ± 7,1 tobramycin group (T) and 33.5 ± 10.3 placebo group (P)] and a minimum of two hospitalisations in the year before inclusion were randomly assigned to inhale twice daily for 12 months 80 mg tobramycin or isotonic saline (placebo). Concomitant therapy was according to the GOLD guidelines. Primary end point was the number of hospitalisations in the period of study, secondary end points were pulmonary function test and 6 MWD. RESULTS: Inhalation of T changed the number of hospitalisations from 2.8 ± 0.5 per year to 3.5 ± 2.7, P from 3.0 ± 1,4 to 2.3 ± 2.2. These differences and the results for secondary endpoints did not reach significance. The dropout rate was high, only 6 patients (T) and 14 patients (P) finished the study per protocol. CONCLUSION: Inhalation with 160 mg tobramycin by means of a nebuliser over a 12-month period did not reduce the number of hospitalisations for patients with severe COPD and a minimum of two hospitalisations compared to placebo. The severity of the disease was the main reason for the high dropout rate.

[Early treatment of COPD with tiotropium]. / Evidenz für eine frühzeitige Therapie der COPD mit Tiotropium.

BACKGROUND: In a prespecified subgroup analysis of the 4-year trial "Understanding Potential Long-term Impacts on Function with Tiotropium", the efficacy of tiotropium versus control in patients with moderate COPD (GOLD II) was examined and compared with the pooled results of patients with more severe disease (GOLD III/IV). METHODS: Randomised, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study in 5993 patients over a period of 4 years. Patients received either tiotropium 18 µg or placebo once-daily. The study endpoints were the annual FEV1 decline as well as lung function parameters, health status, exacerbations and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: 46 % of the patients had moderate disease (GOLD II; tiotropium: n = 1384, control group: n = 1355) with a mean postbronchodilator FEV1 of 1.63 (0.37) L (59 % predicted). In these patients with moderate COPD, tiotropium significantly improved the absolute FEV1 values (pre-bronchodilator FEV1: 101 - 119 ml, post-bronchodilator FEV1: 52 - 82 ml, p < 0.001) and the postbronchodilator FEV1 decline compared with the control patients (43 (2) vs. 49 (2) ml/year; p = 0.024). In addition, there was a statistically significant improvement in the annual exacerbation rate (tiotropium: 0.56, control: 0.7; p < 0.0001), the time to first exacerbation (tiotropium: 23.09, control: 17.47 months; p < 0.0001) and health status (tiotropium vs. control: minus 2.7 - 4 units; p < 0.0001) in the tiotropium group.  CONCLUSIONS: The results of this subgroup analysis support current guideline recommendations and indicate that already patients with moderate COPD (GOLD stage II) benefit clinically from treatment with tiotropium.

[Therapy for small airways disease: basic principles and therapeutic implications]. / Therapie der kleinen Atemwege: Grundlagen und Möglichkeiten.

This paper describes the possibility of targeting the small airways. In addition to aiding in the therapy for chronic obstructive lung diseases this may prove to be invaluable in the development of treatment strategies for diseases of the bronchioli. Essential factors in peripheral lung deposition include extra-fine particles, a slow and controlled inspiratory flow and an endexspiratory breathhold of 5 - 10 sec (especially for steroids). Due to methodological difficulties, clinical data comparing steroids with larger or extra-fine particles are limited in the field of asthma therapy. However, research suggests a trend for reduced symptoms, positively affected biomarkers and decreased lung hyperinflation when steroids with extra-fine particles are used.

[Lung function diagnostics for the small airways]. / Lungenfunktionsdiagnostik der kleinen Atemwege.

In the recent years growing interest has focused on the involvement of the distal airways (internal diameter < 2 mm) in obstructive lung diseases and other pulmonary conditions. Inflammation in the small airways seems to play a major role in severe and uncontrolled asthma as a major determinant of airflow obstruction. Thus, small airways represent an important target for inhalation therapy. Currently there is no accepted single lung function parameter to detect small airway dysfunction. Various invasive and non-invasive techniques have been described. In future, non-invasive lung function testing will gain more importance. Using spirometry or body plethysmography, lung function parameters such as the ratio of forced vital capacity to slow vital capacity (FVC/SVC) and the residual volume (RV) can provide information about air trapping in small airway disease. Recent data show that techniques such as impulse oscillometry, nitrogen washout testing and analysis of exhaled nitric oxide are promising tools to assess involvement of the small airways. Impulse oscillometry is a sensitive method to calculate peripheral airway resistance, nitrogen washout allows one to detect air trapping and inhomogeneous ventilation in the distal lung, and the alveolar nitric oxide concentration represents a marker of peripheral inflammation. Further studies are needed to validate these functional tests or their combination for diagnosis and assessment of treatment response in pulmonary diseases involving small airways.

[Comparison of endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and mediastinoscopy (MS) for staging lung cancer]. / Vergleich von endobronchialem Ultraschall (EBUS) und Mediastinoskopie (MSK) beim Staging des Lungenkarzinoms.

Diagnostic findings of mediastinal metastasis are an important factor for the prognosis of and therapy for lung cancer. In this retrospective study we examined the role of endobronchial ultrasound with transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS) and mediastinoscopy (MS) in patients with confirmed lung cancer. Between 01/2009 and 07/2011 we performed 111 EBUS procedures [partly in combination with transoesophageal endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA)] and 88 mediastinoscopies. The diagnostic accuracy of EBUS (94%) was superior to that of MS (86%) (p < 0.05). The negative predictive value of EBUS and MS was 83% for both, the sensitivity was 94% vs. 58%, the prevalence of N2 /N3 was 84% vs. 32% and the rate of complications was 0% vs. 3%. Due to the at least similar accuracy the EBUS should be the first diagnostic procedure for histological staging of the mediastinum in patients with lung cancer.