Acute respiratory failure in the elderly: etiology, emergency diagnosis and prognosis

INTRODUCTION: Our objectives were to determine the causes of acute respiratory failure (ARF) in elderly patients and to assess the accuracy of the initial diagnosis by the emergency physician, and that of the prognosis. METHOD: In this prospective observational study, patients were included if they were admitted to our emergency department, aged 65 years or more with dyspnea, and fulfilled at least one of the following criteria of ARF: respiratory rate at least 25 minute(-1); arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO(2)) 70 mmHg or less, or peripheral oxygen saturation 92% or less in breathing room air; arterial partial pressure of CO(2 )(PaCO(2)) ≥ 45 mmHg, with pH ≤ 7.35. The final diagnoses were determined by an expert panel from the completed medical chart. RESULTS: A total of 514 patients (aged (mean ± standard deviation) 80 ± 9 years) were included. The main causes of ARF were cardiogenic pulmonary edema (43%), community-acquired pneumonia (35%), acute exacerbation of chronic respiratory disease (32%), pulmonary embolism (18%), and acute asthma (3%); 47% had more than two diagnoses. In-hospital mortality was 16%. A missed diagnosis in the emergency department was noted in 101 (20%) patients. The accuracy of the diagnosis of the emergency physician ranged from 0.76 for cardiogenic pulmonary edema to 0.96 for asthma. An inappropriate treatment occurred in 162 (32%) patients, and lead to a higher mortality (25% versus 11%; p < 0.001). In a multivariate analysis, inappropriate initial treatment (odds ratio 2.83, p < 0.002), hypercapnia > 45 mmHg (odds ratio 2.79, p < 0.004), clearance of creatinine < 50 ml minute(-1 )(odds ratio 2.37, p < 0.013), elevated NT-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide or B-type natriuretic peptide (odds ratio 2.06, p < 0.046), and clinical signs of acute ventilatory failure (odds ratio 1.98, p < 0.047) were predictive of death. CONCLUSION: Inappropriate initial treatment in the emergency room was associated with increased mortality in elderly patients with ARF

Cardiac asthma in elderly patients: incidence, clinical presentation and outcome

Abstract Background Cardiac asthma is common, but has been poorly investigated. The objective was to compare the characteristics and outcome of cardiac asthma with that of classical congestive heart failure (CHF) in elderly patients. Methods Prospective study in an 1,800-bed teaching hospital. Results Two hundred and twelve consecutive patients aged ≥ 65 years presenting with dyspnea due to CHF (mean age of 82 ± 8 years) were included. Findings of cardiac echocardiography and natriuretic peptides levels were used to confirm CHF. Cardiac asthma patients were defined as a patient with CHF and wheezing reported by attending physician upon admission to the emergency department. The CHF group (n = 137) and the cardiac asthma group (n = 75), differed for tobacco use (34% vs. 59%, p 2 (47 ± 15 vs. 41 ± 11 mmHg, p Conclusion Patients with cardiac asthma represented one third of CHF in elderly patients. They were more hypercapnic and experienced more distal airway obstruction. However, outcomes were similar.</p

Bonnes pratiques de l’aérosolthérapie par nébulisation en 2020

La nébulisation est un mode d’administration des traitements inhalés dont la prescription et la mise en place restent délicates. Ces bonnes pratiques, réalisées par le GAT (groupe aérosolthérapie de la SPLF), étaient nécessaires, les dernières datant de 2007. Plus encore qu’une actualisation des données sur le sujet, ces recommandations d’experts se veulent une vraie aide pour le prescripteur.[Good practice for aerosol therapy by nebulization in 2020] Nebulization is a drug delivery mode whose prescription and application remain uncertain. A guide to good practice has been proposed by the work group on aerosol therapy of the French Society for Respiratory Diseases, so-called GAT. The previous recommendations date from 2007. In addition to an update of data on nebulization, these expert recommendations aim to be of real help to the prescriber

Home spirometry in bronchiolitis obliterans after allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplant

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