Open Respiratory Medicine Journal

INTRODUCTION: Tracheostomy-related tracheal tear is a serious complication that may follow surgical or percutaneous tracheostomy. Pediatric populations carry a higher risk because of anatomical differences. The aim of this article is to review this condition and to help in its diagnosis and management with the assistance of clinical and radiological findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An English literature review was done using the terms pediatric, tracheostomy, tracheal tear and tracheostomy tube...

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and criteria of wheat allergy (WA) among patients with resistant allergic conjunctivitis (AC). METHODS: A prospective comparative study was conducted on 100 patients with resistant AC. Skin prick-tests (SPTs), total and sIgE against a panel of inhalant and food allergens were performed in all patients' sera. They were divided into 2 groups according to skin prick test (SPT) and specific IgE (sIgE) level, namely the wheat sensitive group (WSG) and wheat tolerant group (WTG)...

INTRODUCTION: An association between chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis has been observed. However, the incidence of this association is variable. The current use of high-resolution Chest Thoracic (CT) scans in patients with COPD has contributed to its demonstration. It is comorbidity or even an overlap syndrome. The aim of this study is to determine the characteristics of bronchiectasis in patients with COPD at the Annaba University Hospital in Algeria. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We prospectively included patients hospitalized at the Annaba University Hospital in Algeria between 1st January, 2013 to 31st December, 2015...

AIMS: Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy (EMNB) is a useful tool for the bronchoscopist to target peripheral pulmonary lesions. It has a well-established efficacy and safety profile; however, there are no studies describing its utility in a Middle Eastern population. In this paper, we describe the efficacy and safety outcomes of a newly established EMNB service. BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions presents a significant challenge to the bronchoscopist, especially in the era of increased thoracic imaging with computerized tomography (CT) scans...

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide with many patients presenting with advanced disease. OBJECTIVE: We reviewed the available literature for lung cancer screening using low dose computed tomography (LDCT). We reviewed the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST), Early Lung Cancer Action Program (ELCAP) and the (Nederlands-Leuvens Longkanker Screenings Onderzoek (NELSON) trials. We also look at different lung cancer risk prediction models that may aid in identifying target populations and also discuss the cost-effectiveness of LDCT screening in different groups of smokers and ex-smokers...

BACKGROUND: Central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2 ) is an essential test readily performed both by medical and nursing personnel in a critical care setting. It gives information on the patient's oxygen supply, oxygen consumption, and cardiac output. It plays an important role in early goal-directed treatment. OBJECTIVES: This study was planned to assess the effect of different fractions of inspired oxygen (FiO2 ) levels on central venous oxygen saturation for consideration during the evaluation of central venous oxygen saturation...

INTRODUCTION: Patients with severe allergic asthma (SAA) are at risk of severe exacerbations. Omalizumab is recommended as an add-on treatment for patients with uncontrolled SAA, despite high-dose inhaled corticosteroids and long acting β2 -agonist combination therapy (standard therapy).RELIEF was a prospective, open label, multicenter study conducted to assess the real-life effectiveness of omalizumab co-administered with standard therapy in patients with SAA for 24 months. METHODS: A total of 347 patients aged ≥ 6 years with SAA were enrolled, 285 of whom (8 pediatrics and 277 adolescents and adults) completed this 24-month study...

BACKGROUND: Better delineation of COVID-19 presentations in different climatological conditions might assist with prompt diagnosis and isolation of patients. OBJECTIVES: To study the association of latitude and altitude with COVID-19 symptomatology. METHODS: This observational cohort study included 12267 adult COVID-19 patients hospitalized between 03/2020 and 01/2021 at 181 hospitals in 24 countries within the SCCM Discovery VIRUS: COVID-19 Registry...

BACKGROUND: Exposure to toxic materials predisposes the lungs to infectious agents and inflammatory responses. The present study was performed on patients with anthracosis caused by exposure to fossil fuels in previous years, and histopathological features of airways' normal-appearing tissue were compared with histopathological features of anthracotic plaques in these patients. METHODS: Bronchoscopic evaluations were performed on bakery workers who were directly in contact with fossil fuels...

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a widespread, late-diagnosed, and difficult-to-treat disease that influences the quality of life. Despite the availability of a wide range of drugs for the treatment of COPD, none of them provides a complete cure, while the leading risk factors (primarily, smoking) persist. In this regard, illness perception and medical behavior play a key role. METHODS: The study design was cross-sectional and included 143 stable outpatients (107 men, mean age 66 ± 7...

BACKGROUND: Bronchoscopy procedure in patients with COVID-19 poses significant challenges, especially in a developing country with limited resources. OBJECTIVES: We aim to describe the clinical characteristics of severe and critical COVID-19 patients treated in an intensive care unit (ICU) and their bronchoscopy findings. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of clinical data of ICU patients with COVID-19 treated and received bronchoscopy procedures...

The prevalence and incidence of asthma are increasing globally because of genetic and environmental influences. Prevalence of asthma in the Gulf has been reported to range from 4.7% to 32.0% and has a substantial economic burden. In this paper, we summarize current asthma management guidance for adults, present insights, and recommendations by key opinion leaders (KOLs) in the Gulf region, and key performance indicators for guiding clinical practice for asthma diagnosis, management, and treatment in the Gulf...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of glycopyrronium (GLY) in patients with COPD in a real-world setting in Japan. METHODS: This 52-week, multicentre, post-marketing surveillance conducted in Japan, between February 2013 and August 2019, included patients using GLY for the first time for the relief of airway obstructive disorder-related symptoms. Safety outcomes included incidence of adverse events (AEs), serious AEs (SAEs), adverse drug reactions (ADRs), serious ADRs (SADRs) and priority variables included cardiovascular/cerebrovascular (CCV) AEs and anticholinergic AEs during the 52-week period...

BACKGROUND: Severe COVID-19 pneumonitis in elderly frail patients is associated with poor outcomes, and therefore invasive mechanical ventilation is often deemed an inappropriate course of action. Some evidence suggests high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) may prevent the need for invasive ventilation in other groups of patients, but whether it is an appropriate ceiling of care for older frail patients is unknown. METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonitis requiring FiO2 >60% who were deemed inappropriate for invasive ventilation or non-invasive continuous positive airway pressure ventilation (CPAP)...

Purpose: Identifying the distribution of allergens is valuable to the effective diagnosis and treatment of allergic disease. So, our aim is to explore the sensitization of food and aeroallergens in Egyptian patients with atopic asthma. Methods: Cross-sectional study recruited 268 Egyptian patients with atopic asthma. Asthmatic patients were assessed by the enzyme allegro sorbent test (EAST) method for specific IgE to a panel of 19 common regional inhaled allergens and 15 food allergens...

BACKGROUND: Fever, cough, fatigue, and myalgia are usually the original clinical picture of the COVID-19 pandemic, which appears non-specific and not exclusive. OBJECTIVES: To illustrate the clinical picture pattern and assess the prevalence of underlying co-morbidities and their correlation with the severity of COVID-19 infected patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey included 580 participants who were either suspected or confirmed with COVID-19 infection...

The complexity of COVID-19 is also related to the multiple molecular pathways triggered by SARS-CoV-2, which is able to cause type I pneumocyte death, trigger intravascular coagulation, interfere with the renin-angiotensin system, dysregulate iron metabolism, ending with the insurgence of a cytokine storm which may lead to death. Old adults with obesity, hypertension, and diabetes are among the high-risk category groups more prone to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Magnesium has been reported to play a major role both in physiology and in pathology, particularly in elderly people, regulating cytotoxic functions of natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+ T lymphocytes...

Introduction: Asthma is a major public health problem that negatively impacts patients, families, and the community. Identifying risk factors for poor asthma control may greatly enhance the establishment of more effective treatment of asthma. The level of asthma control and risk factors for poor asthma control is relatively unknown in Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 adult asthma patients at the Outpatient Department (OPD) chest clinic of Jimma Medical Center (JMC), from February 15 -March 20, 2019...

Background: The symptoms of COVID-19 have a wide range of severity ranging from no symptoms at all to mild symptoms, such as fever, cough, sore throat, general weakness. Moreover, in some situations, patients may develop severe complications as pneumonia, and sepsis, leading to death. This study aims to investigate the characteristic features of COVID-19 patients based on their medical condition prior to COVID-19 diagnosis. Methods: A retrospective cohort study took place between the 1st of April 2020 and the 31st of June 2020 in Prince Hamzah Hospital, Jordan...

BACKGROUND: The optimum management of respiratory failure in patients with coronavirus (COVID-19) infections has been a challenge for physicians across the globe. Many scientific societies have suggested the use of CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) in severe cases in an effort to reduce invasive ventilation. We investigated mortality outcomes in patients who needed CPAP but were not suitable for invasive ventilation. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the mortality outcomes of all consecutive COVID-19 cases with severe type 1 respiratory failure requiring FiO2 >0...