Deposition of Inhaled Levofloxacin in Cystic Fibrosis Lungs Assessed by Functional Respiratory Imaging

Pulmonary infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) represent the leading cause of pulmonary morbidity in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). In addition to tobramycin, colistin, and aztreonam, levofloxacin has been approved in Europe to treat PA infections. Nevertheless, no lung deposition data on inhaled levofloxacin are yet available. We conducted a Functional Respiratory Imaging (FRI) study to predict the lung deposition of levofloxacin in the lungs of patients with CF. Three-dimensional airway models were digitally reconstructed from twenty high-resolution computed tomography scans obtained from historical patients’ records. Levofloxacin aerosols generated with the corresponding approved nebuliser were characterised according to pharmacopeia. The obtained data were used to inform a computational fluid dynamics simulation of levofloxacin lung deposition using breathing patterns averaged from actual CF patients’ spirometry data. Levofloxacin deposition in the lung periphery was significantly reduced by breathing patterns with low inspiratory times and high inspiratory flow rates. The intrathoracic levofloxacin deposition percentages for moderate and mild CF lungs were, respectively, 37.0% ± 13.6 and 39.5% ± 12.9 of the nominal dose. A significant albeit modest correlation was found between the central-to-peripheral deposition (C/P) ratio of levofloxacin and FEV1. FRI analysis also detected structural differences between mild and moderate CF airways. FRI revealed a significant intrathoracic deposition of levofloxacin aerosols, which distributed preferentially to the lower lung lobes, with an influence of the deterioration of FEV1 on the C/P ratio. The three-dimensional rendering of CF airways also detected structural differences between the airways of patients with mild and moderate CF.

Haemoptysis as Complication of Wire-Guided Pulmonary Vein Orifice Cryoballoon Ablation in Complex Anatomy: a Clinical Case Series

Background. Cryoballoon ablation of pulmonary vein orifices is an effective measure in atrial fibrillation but associates with risks of interventional complications, including haemoptysis. The described clinical case series presents novel evidence to revisit the complication sources.Materials and methods. Four haemoptysis-complicated cryoballoon ablations of pulmonary vein orifice have been analysed retrospectively. Interventions completed in a common clinical protocol with no additional postoperative complications.Results. Fluoroscopy revealed a loop-formed balloon-supporting end of guidewire located in peripheral lower lobe of right lung. Postoperative chest computed tomography also depicted the main lung blood volume confined in right lower lobe, thus indicating pulmonary damage by the guidewire.Discussion. Pulmonary vein anatomy is diverse and can greatly sophisticate the cryoballoon ablation procedure with a peculiar balloon navigation in left atrium. An optimal pulmonary vein orifice occlusion can be attained with guidewire, albeit incurring complications in form of haemoptysis.Conclusions. The appliance advancement towards lung periphery associates with a higher risk of haemoptysis and bleeding. Perioperative haemoptysis and bleeding are most likely associated with mechanical injury to minor veins and require further investigation.

Lung cancer and interstitial lung diseases: the lack of prognostic impact of lung cancer in IPF

Lung Cancer (LC) is the first cause of death worldwide. Recently increased interest in interstitial lung diseases (ILD) has highlighted an association with lung cancer, offering interesting insights into the pathogenesis of the latter. Describe the association between lung cancer and ILD and evaluate the impact of LC on survival in these populations. We collected clinical, radiological, histologic data of 53 cases of advanced pulmonary fibrosis with lung cancer: 17 with UIP pattern (usual interstitial pneumonia, UIP/IPF-LC) and 36 with non-UIP pattern (ILD-LC). Adenocarcinoma was the most frequent histological subtype of lung cancer in all three groups and in UIP/IPF-LC developed in the lung periphery and in an advanced fibrosis context. Patients with DLCO% < 38% showed survival < 10 months, irrespective of group and development of carcinoma in UIP/IPF does not necessarily affect survival, unlike in SR-ILD. Our results confirm that the oncogenic mechanism is closely linked to fibrotic and inflammatory processes and that the development of carcinoma affects survival in SR-ILD but not in IPF.

Cocaine-Induced Giant Bullous Emphysema

Background. Emphysematous bullae, defined as airspaces of greater than or equal to one centimeter in diameter, have a variety of etiologies such as tobacco use and alpha-1 antitrypsin being the most common. Emphysematous bullae have also been reported in patients using cocaine usually involving the lung periphery and sparing the central lung parenchyma. We present a case of a male with a history of cocaine abuse found to have a singular giant emphysematous bulla occupying >95% of the right hemithorax requiring video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) with a favorable outcome. Case Presentation. A 50-year-old male with a history of chronic cocaine abuse was found unresponsive in the field and given multiple doses of naloxone without any improvement in mental status. On presentation to the emergency department, chest X-ray as well as CT scan of the chest were performed which were suggestive of an extensive pneumothorax of the right lung requiring placement of a chest tube. The patient was subsequently intubated and underwent bronchoscopy with right chest VATS which found a giant bulla encasing the entire right pleural cavity. During the procedure, he underwent resection of the bullae and a partial right pleurodesis. After the procedure, patient’s respiratory status significantly improved, and he was discharged in a stable condition. Conclusion. Cocaine use is a rare but identifiable factor that can cause giant bullous emphysema (GBE) resulting in severe complications and even death. The purpose of this case presentation is to support early identification and treatment of GBE using bullectomy with VATS, improving outcomes and decreasing morbidity and mortality.

Diagnostic significance of volume capnography in examination of patients with bronchial asthma

Aim: to study the diagnostic significance of volume capnography in examination of patients with severe and moderate bronchial asthma (BA). Materials and Methods. 171 patents were examined, of them 43 patients with severe BA and 45 patients with moderate BA. The control group included 83 relatively healthy volunteers. In all the participants, along with clinical examination, parameters of spirometry and volume capnography were determined using ultrasound computer spirograph SpiroScout (Ganshorn, Germany) equipped with a volume capnography function. Results. Volume capnography revealed the following changes in patients with BA in comparison with the control group: increase in the slope of phase III (indicates non-uniformity of ventilation and perfusion in the lung periphery due to pathology of the small airways) and increase in emphysema index (indicates hyperinflation of lung). The above indices had statistically significant differences in severe and moderate asthma. Based on the results of examination of healthy individuals, the normal values for the slope of phase III (<0.31 g/mol·L) and emphysema index (<43) were calculated. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of volume capnography were studied with subsequent construction of ROC-curves and calculation of AUC for the slope angle of phase III and for emphysema index. It was found that most informative in BA are parameters of specificity of the diagnostic test (slope of phase III – 90.32%, emphysema index – 96.77%). The subsequent construction of ROC-curves showed that the AUC value for slope of phase III and emphysema index was higher in severe BA compared to the moderate BA (0.74 and 0.86, respectively). Conclusion. The obtained data demonstrate the significance of volume capnography in the functional diagnosis of respiratory disorders in BA.

Diagnostic significance of volume capnography in examination of patients with bronchial asthma

Aim: to study the diagnostic significance of volume capnography in examination of patients with severe and moderate bronchial asthma (BA). Materials and Methods. 171 patents were examined, of them 43 patients with severe BA and 45 patients with moderate BA. The control group included 83 relatively healthy volunteers. In all the participants, along with clinical examination, parameters of spirometry and volume capnography were determined using ultrasound computer spirograph SpiroScout (Ganshorn, Germany) equipped with a volume capnography function. Results. Volume capnography revealed the following changes in patients with BA in comparison with the control group: increase in the slope of phase III (indicates non-uniformity of ventilation and perfusion in the lung periphery due to pathology of the small airways) and increase in emphysema index (indicates hyperinflation of lung). The above indices had statistically significant differences in severe and moderate asthma. Based on the results of examination of healthy individuals, the normal values for the slope of phase III (<0.31 g/mol·L) and emphysema index (<43) were calculated. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of volume capnography were studied with subsequent construction of ROC-curves and calculation of AUC for the slope angle of phase III and for emphysema index. It was found that most informative in BA are parameters of specificity of the diagnostic test (slope of phase III – 90.32%, emphysema index – 96.77%). The subsequent construction of ROC-curves showed that the AUC value for slope of phase III and emphysema index was higher in severe BA compared to the moderate BA (0.74 and 0.86, respectively). Conclusion. The obtained data demonstrate the significance of volume capnography in the functional diagnosis of respiratory disorders in BA.