Project description:We present an interesting case of a 38-year-old woman who presented with a history of left-sided chest pain, dyspnoea and palpitations. The symptoms have been occurring since age 18, and were previously diagnosed as costochondritis. Because of the suspicious history, the patient underwent further cardiac investigations. The echocardiogram demonstrated an abnormal structure adjacent to the aortic valve. A diagnostic coronary angiogram revealed a large left circumflex artery fistulating into the right atrium. Surgery was performed to ligate the fistula. The patient recovered well and has been asymptomatic since.
Project description:A 71-year-old woman presented with dysphagia and acute shortness of breath. Surgical history included a prior thoracotomy overseas for a bronchogenic mesothelial cyst 19?years before. Computed tomography demonstrated a mass within the posterior mediastinum measuring 69?×?70 ×?74?mm. A median sternotomy was performed, and after removal of the cyst, repair of the left atrium and pulmonary vessels was undertaken due to the invading nature of the cyst. Intrapericardial bronchogenic cysts are a rare form of congenital cysts arising from the primitive foregut. The cardiac primordia are in close proximity to the foregut and primitive tracheobronchial tree, and thus, abnormal budding of the tracheobronchial tree can arise in a myocardial location. Irrespective of the method of approach in redo surgery, complete resection must be performed in order to minimize the chance of recurrence, relieve symptoms, eliminate risk of infection, and prevent malignant degeneration.
Project description:BackgroundIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive interstitial lung disease that often causes disabling dyspnea. In IPF and other lung diseases, patient-reported outcomes (PROs)-questionnaires designed to gather information from the patient's perspective-can determine whether therapies affect dyspnea or other outcomes meaningful to patients. Before a PRO can be used confidently as an outcome measure in a longitudinal trial, studies must demonstrate the PRO's ability to capture change over time in the target population. Our goal in this study was to examine whether the UCSD Shortness of Breath Questionnaire does so in patients with IPF.MethodsWe used data from the Sildenafil Trial of Exercise Performance in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (STEP-IPF) to perform analyses that examined associations between UCSD scores and five external measures (anchors) at baseline and over time. Anchors included the Activity domain from St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ-A), the Physical Functioning domain from the SF-36 (SF36-PF), forced vital capacity (FVC), diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO), and distance walked during a timed walk test (6MWD). Linear regression models were used to examine relationships between UCSD scores and anchors over time.ResultsAt baseline, UCSD scores were weakly correlated with percent predicted FVC (-0.21, p = 0.005) and percent predicted DLCO (-0.20, p = 0.008), moderately correlated with 6MWD (-0.39, p < 0.0001) and strongly correlated with SGRQ-A (0.79, p < 0.0001) and SF36-PF (-0.72, p < 0.0001). Change over time in UCSD scores was associated with change in FVC (estimate = 2.54, standard error [SE] = 1.23, p = 0.04), SGRQ-A (estimate = 7.94, SE = 1.11, p < 0.0001), SF36-PF (estimate = 6.00, SE = 1.13, p < 0.0001), and 6MWD (estimate = 4.23, SE = 1.18, p = 0.0004) but not DLCO (estimate = 0.33, SE = 1.33, p = 0.80).ConclusionsThese results support the validity of the UCSD to assess change in dyspnea over time in patients with IPF.
Project description:ObjectiveOur aim was to describe variability in resource use and hospitalization in children presenting with shortness of breath to different European Emergency Departments (EDs) and to explore possible explanations for variability.DesignThe TrIAGE project, a prospective observational study based on electronic health record data.Patients and settingConsecutive paediatric emergency department visits for shortness of breath in five European hospitals in four countries (Austria, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom) during a study period of 9-36 months (2012-2014).Main outcome measuresWe assessed diversity between EDs regarding resource use (diagnostic tests, therapy) and hospital admission using multivariable logistic regression analyses adjusting for potential confounding variables.ResultsIn total, 13,552 children were included. Of those, 7,379 were categorized as immediate/very urgent, ranging from 13-80% in the participating hospitals. Laboratory tests and X-rays were performed in 8-33% of the cases and 21-61% was treated with inhalation medication. Admission rates varied between 8-47% and PICU admission rates varied between 0.1-9%. Patient characteristics and markers of disease severity (age, sex, comorbidity, urgency, vital signs) could explain part of the observed variability in resource use and hospitalization. However, after adjusting for these characteristics, we still observed substantial variability between settings.ConclusionEuropean EDs differ substantially regarding the resource use and hospitalization in children with shortness of breath, even when adjusting for patient characteristics. Possible explanations for this variability might be unmeasured patient characteristics such as underlying disease, differences in guideline use and adherence or different local practice patterns.
Project description:The perception of negative health consequences is a common motive for quitting smoking, but specific information on the immediate health effects of occasional smoking among young adults is limited.To examine the relationship between cigarette use and symptoms of (a) cough or sore throat and (b) shortness of breath or fatigue after regular activities among young adults, we performed online health screening of a random sample of 25,000 college undergraduates. The screening survey assessed demographic characteristics, smoking and related health behaviors, and respiratory symptoms in the previous 30 days.The response rate was 26% (6,492/25,000). Among individuals reporting no smoking in the prior 30 days and smoking on 1-4, 5-10, 11-20, or 21-30 days, the prevalence of one or more days of cough/sore throat increased from 62.5% to 68.3%, 72.0%, 71.4%, and 73.7%, respectively (p < .001). Similarly, the prevalence of shortness of breath/fatigue increased from 42.7% to 47.1%, 56.2%, 59.5%, and 64.6%, respectively (p < .001). After controlling for demographics, other important health behaviors (e.g., days consuming alcohol and getting adequate sleep), and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure, reporting symptoms of cough/sore throat was associated with smoking on at least 21 days, whereas shortness of breath/fatigue was associated with smoking on 5 or more days. Among those reporting symptoms, increased number of days with respiratory symptoms was associated with smoking on most days as well as ETS exposure.In conclusion, this cross-sectional study found that occasional smoking and ETS exposure were associated with an increase in the rate of respiratory symptoms (cough/sore throat and shortness of breath/fatigue) among young adults.
Project description:A 79-year-old man with prior bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement presented with progressive shortness of breath and was found to have right upper pulmonary vein stenosis and paravalvular leak diagnosed with the use of multimodal imaging. The patient underwent balloon angioplasty, stenting of the pulmonary vein, and paravalvular leak closure with ultimate resolution of symptoms. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).
Project description:BackgroundDyspnea is a common symptom that has many causes, including obstructive airway disorders. We sought to examine previous diagnosis of obstructive airway disorders and other conditions in patients receiving treatment with inhaled medications for shortness of breath in a community setting.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included consecutive patients aged 18 years and older receiving treatment for shortness of breath with inhaled medications for a minimum of 6 months. Study participants were recruited through community pharmacies in Edmonton and Saskatoon, Canada, between February 2009 and February 2012. Previous diagnosis of obstructive airway disorders by a primary care provider was assessed by patient self-report and review of health records. We conducted an assessment (as per guidelines from the American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society), including pulmonary function tests; diagnoses were adjudicated by an expert physician panel (2 respirologists and 1 emergency physician). The agreement between diagnoses derived from pulmonary function tests and diagnoses from primary care providers was evaluated.ResultsA total of 328 patients (median age 50 yr, 57.3% female) underwent assessment; 134 (40.9%) of patients reported ever having a pulmonary function test performed. After adjudication, 138 (42.1%) were diagnosed with asthma only, 86 (26.2%) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease only and 11 (3.4%) with both. Some patients (93, 28.4%) had no evidence of obstructive airway disorders and 20 (6.1%) had evidence of other conditions that cause shortness of breath, such as heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. Overall, 62 (18.9%) patients could not be assigned a diagnosis.InterpretationIn a group of community-based patients with shortness of breath being treated with inhalers, less than half ever had pulmonary function tests performed, and a considerable proportion had no evidence of lung disease or other conditions. These findings highlight the need for confirmatory testing, including pulmonary function tests, before prescribing inhalers for patients with presumed obstructive airway disorders.
Project description:RationaleThe University of California, San Diego Shortness of Breath Questionnaire (UCSDSOBQ) is a frequently used domain-specific dyspnea questionnaire; however, there is little information available regarding its use and minimum important difference (MID) in fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD). We aimed to describe the key performance characteristics of the UCSDSOBQ in this population.MethodsUCSDSOBQ scores and selected anchors were measured in 1933 patients from the prospective multi-center Canadian Registry for Pulmonary Fibrosis. Anchors included the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 5 Levels questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) and EQ visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS), percent-predicted forced vital capacity (FVC%), diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO%), and 6-min walk distance (6MWD). Concurrent validity, internal consistency, ceiling and floor effects, and responsiveness were assessed, followed by estimation of the MID by anchor-based (linear regression) and distribution-based methods (standard error of measurement).ResultsThe UCSDSOBQ had a high level of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.97), no obvious floor or ceiling effect, strong correlations with SGRQ, EQ-5D-5L, and EQ-VAS (|r| > 0.5), and moderate correlations with FVC%, DLCO%, and 6MWD (0.3 < |r| < 0.5). The MID estimate for UCSDSOBQ was 5 points (1-8) for the anchor-based method, and 4.5 points for the distribution-based method.ConclusionThis study demonstrates the validity of UCSDSOBQ in a large and heterogeneous population of patients with fibrotic ILD, and provides a robust MID estimate of 5-8 points.