Esther Pallisa

Quality of Life, Pulmonary Function, and Tomographic Scan Abnormalities After ARDS

BACKGROUND ARDS can produce a loss of lung function with persistent sequelae. This study aimed to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQL) in survivors of ARDS compared with a healthy reference population and to determine the middle/long-term radiographic abnormalities and functional status, as well as their relation to observed HRQL, in these patients. METHODS This was a prospective study carried out in three ICUs. HRQL in patients was determined with the Nottingham Health Profile immediately after ARDS diagnosis and 6 months after diagnosis. Patients underwent complete respiratory function testing, chest CT scan study, and the 6-min walk test. RESULTS Follow-up was conducted in 38 patients with ARDS. Survivors of ARDS presented a poorer overall HRQL vs the general population, mainly because of lower scores in the dimensions related to mobility, energy, and social isolation. Limitations in daily life activities were documented in 40%. Respiratory function was altered in 67%, with a restrictive respiratory pattern in 58%. Radiologic study disclosed alterations in 76% (mainly reticular pattern). Patients were able to cover only 366 m (318-411 m) in the 6-min walk test and had a minimum pulse oximetry of 93% (90%-94%). A significant correlation was documented between the overall quality of life at first and at 6 months (r = 0.68, P < .01). CONCLUSIONS Survivors of ARDS after 6 months had a poorer HRQL than the healthy population and showed mild radiographic and functional involvement. Early HRQL study in these patients enabled early detection of those who would present more long-term HRQL morbidity.

Learning from the Pulmonary Veins

The purpose of this article is to review the basic embryology and anatomy of the pulmonary veins and the various imaging techniques used to evaluate the pulmonary veins, as well as the radiologic findings in diseases affecting these structures. Specific cases highlight the clinical importance of the imaging features, particularly the findings obtained with multidetector computed tomography (CT). Pulmonary vein disease can be broadly classified into congenital or acquired conditions. Congenital disease, which often goes unnoticed until patients are adults, mainly includes (a) anomalies in the number or diameter of the vessels and (b) abnormal drainage or connection with the pulmonary arterial tree. Acquired disease can be grouped into (a) stenosis and obstruction, (b) hypertension, (c) thrombosis, (d) calcifications, and (e) collateral circulation. Pulmonary vein stenosis or obstruction, which often has important clinical repercussions, is frequently a result of radiofrequency ablation complications, neoplastic infiltration, or fibrosing mediastinitis. The most common cause of pulmonary venous hypertension is chronic left ventricular failure. This condition is difficult to differentiate from veno-occlusive pulmonary disease, which requires a completely different treatment. Pulmonary vein thrombosis is a rare, potentially severe condition that can have a local or distant cause. Calcifications have been described in rheumatic mitral valve disease and chronic renal failure. Finally, the pulmonary veins can act as conduits for collateral circulation in cases of obstruction of the superior vena cava. Multidetector CT is an excellent modality for imaging evaluation of the pulmonary veins, even when the examination is not specifically tailored for their assessment.

Good outcome of interstitial lung disease in patients with scleroderma associated to anti-PM/Scl antibody.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this article was to establish the clinical course of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in scleroderma related to the presence of anti-PM/Scl antibody compared with anti-Scl-70 in a Spanish cohort. Furthermore, no study has thoroughly investigated the outcome of pulmonary function test in the first group of patients. METHODS A total of 63 Spanish patients with scleroderma and ILD were selected in a retrospective observational study. Among them, 14 were positive for anti-PM/Scl antibodies and 49 for anti-Scl-70. Clinical assessments, including pulmonary function test, were collected. Variations equal or greater than 10% in forced vital capacity (FVC) were considered significant. Progression-free survival of disease was defined as the period of stable illness since pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis. RESULTS Anti-Scl-70 patients had a higher frequency of diffuse SSc subset, peripheral vasculopathy, and gastrointestinal involvement. Inflammatory myopathy was associated to anti-PM/Scl antibody. Anti-PM/Scl patients presented more improvement in FVC during follow-up, 30.8% compared to a 7.1% in Scl-70 group (P = 0.04), with less worsening of this parameter (15.4% vs 52.4% in Scl-70 patients, P = 0.01), and secondary less frequency of severe restrictive pattern (FVC < 50%) (7.7% compared to 42.9% in the other group, P = 0.02). Regarding treatment, more anticalcineurinics were used in anti-PM/Scl patients, while cyclophosphamide and mycophenolate were mainly used in anti-Scl-70 patients. The progression-free survival of disease was higher in anti-PM/Scl patients, with 76% at 10 years from diagnosis of ILD against a 29% in the Scl-70 group. CONCLUSIONS Several features and prognosis of ILD in SSc may be modified depending on the identified immunological profile.

Ventilatory Insufficiency due to Asbestos-Related Diffuse Pleural Fibrosis Successfully Treated with Noninvasive Home Mechanical Ventilation

A 54-year-old man with diffuse pleural fibrosis due to previous asbestos exposure developed hypercapnic respiratory failure. Noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) was started at the hospital and maintained at the patient’s home, achieving reversal of the respiratory failure. During a 2-year follow-up, NIMV has been well tolerated by the patient and no relapse in ventilatory failure has occurred. Home NIMV can be considered as an alternative to pleural decortication in asbestos-related diffuse pleural fibrosis with ventilatory insufficiency.

Migrating Azygos Vein and Vanishing Azygos Lobe: Mdct Findings

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to describe six cases of migrating azygos vein and to explain the etiologic factors that contribute to the migration. Six patients with migrating azygos vein were studied by MDCT before and after migration. Five patients had right pneumothorax. All patients had repeated episodes of cough, vomiting, and a short mesoazygos. CONCLUSION Pneumothorax, increased intrathoracic pressure, and a short mesoazygos, in combination or alone, are the main factors in azygos vein migration.

Radiological findings of unilateral tuberculous lung destruction

AbstractObjectivesThe aim of this report is to identify the radiological findings of unilateral tuberculous lung destruction (UTLD).Materials and methodsThirteen patients with (UTLD) were reviewed from 1999 to 2014. Only patients with radiological evidence of absence of pulmonary parenchyma preserved were included. Clinical and demographic data were obtained and radiological studies (chest radiograph and CT) were retrospectively reviewed.ResultsThe left lung was more commonly involved (85%). The following radiological findings were found in all cases: a decrease in the diameter of the pulmonary vessels of the affected lung, herniation of the contralateral lung and hypertrophy of the ribs and/or thickening of extrapleural fat. Two radiological patterns were identified: UTLD with cystic bronchiectasis (85%) and UTLD without residual cystic bronchiectasis (15%). Forty-six per cent of cases had respiratory infection symptoms with presence of air-fluid levels in the affected lung as the most common finding in these patients.ConclusionsTotal unilateral post-tuberculous lung destruction is an irreversible complication with the following main radiological features: predominantly left-sided location, decreases in the diameter of the ipsilateral pulmonary vessels, herniation of the contralateral lung and hypertrophy of the ribs and/or thickening of extrapleural fat.Teaching Points• Unilateral tuberculous lung destruction is an irreversible complication of tuberculosis. • Left-side predominance and herniation of the contralateral lung are characteristic. • Decreased diameter of the ipsilateral pulmonary vessels occurred in all patients. • The pattern with residual cystic bronchiectasis is the most frequent. • Superimposed non-tuberculous infections may affect the destroyed lung.

Mucoid Impactions: CT Findings

A mucoid impaction is a segmental bronchial dilatation filled with mucus and often mixed with inflammatory or neoplastic components, depending on the cause of the process. It is a fairly common finding on plain chest radiographs and implies segmental bronchial obstruction. Among the causes of mucoid