HIGH FLOW NASAL OXYGEN THERAPY (HFNO) IN OPPOSITION TO NON-INVASIVE MECHANICAL VENTILATION (NIV) ADVANTAGES, DISADVANTAGES AND THEIR USE IN COVID-19 INFECTION: BRIEF REVIEW

In the last few decades, different devices for oxygen application have become available, such as low flow systems, high flow systems (HFNO), and non-invasive ventilation (NIV). They are widely applicable and have many advantages as well as disadvantages. HFNO modalities decrease dead space, improve alveolar ventilation, and apply oxygen up to 60l / min, delivering it humidified and heated opposite NIV, which increases anatomical dead space, maintains adequate minute ventilation, and is used in more conditions than HFNO, etc. In our research, we included 12 articles. The study was conducted using literature published up from 2013 to July 2020. In our research we used following keywords: 'non-invasive ventilation', 'high-flow nasal oxygen', 'advantages', 'disadvantages', 'COVID-19'. The HFNO system appears to be more successful than standard oxygen treatment and non-inferior to NIV. It is simple, easy to apply but still insufficiently researched. More research is needed in the future on the benefits and disadvantages of the HFNO system

PRIMARY SPONTANEOUS PARTIAL PNEUMOTHORAX IN A PATIENT WITH COVID-19 PNEUMONIA. HAVE WE UNDERESTIMATED THIS COMPLICATION? A CASE REPORT

Introduction and case report: We described a case of primary spontaneous partial pneumothorax in a middle-aged man with COVID-19 pneumonia who presented with fever, loss of appetite, and malaise. Laboratory results revealed higher levels of inflammatory markers, as well as sterile urine and blood cultures. On admission, a chest X-ray revealed bilateral patchy consolidations in the lung parenchyma, as well as a left-sided partial pneumothorax. Throughout his hospitalization, the patient was closely examined by a thoracic surgeon, and a chest X-ray was taken on multiple occasions. There was spontaneous resorption of air from the pleural space. Conclusion: Pneumothorax is a rare but serious complication of the COVID-19 infection that has recently been documented in patients with no comorbidities, requiring various types of ventilatory support. The precise mechanism of primary spontaneous pneumothorax in COVID-19 infection is unknown, but it will undoubtedly pose a challenge to future researchers

ASTHMA AMONG ELITE ATHLETES, MECHANISM OF OCCURENCE AND IMPACT ON RESPIRATORY PARAMETERS: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Introduction: It is generally accepted that physical activity benefits every person but athletes diagnosed with asthma face various challenges during their training to keep the symptoms of the disease under control. Prolonged exposure to agents in the environment in which athletes train favors the development of permanent changes in the airways. Their action leads to permanent hyper reactivity with development of an inflammatory response and the release of mediators (IL-8, leucotriens, eicosanoids) that lead to damage epithelial cells with breaking connection between them and consequent dysfunction of the respiratory system. This condition is called exercise-induced asthma (EIA). This fact is especially important for athletes who have long endurance training. The best way to check the condition of breathing system is with a diagnostic method which is the „ gold“ standard- spirometry. Aim: The point of this systematic review is to get closer the mechanism occurrence of EIA/(exercise induced bronchoconstriction)-EIB, prevalence and incidence of EIA/EIB, changes of pulmonary function and quality of life in elite athletes. We searched papers from PubMed and Cochrane database using keywords: 'exercise-induced asthma', 'athletes', ' spirometry', 'bronchoconstriction', ’bronchospasm’, 'physical activity', 'physical training', 'prevalence', 'incidence'. We have studied 48 scientific papers in total. Conclusion: The prevalence of asthma among elite athletes, especially endurance athletes is higher than in general population. The explanation of this phenomenon is related to the whole mechanism of occurrence, it is still insufficiently clarified, but one thing is for sure that with good disease control athletes can play and compete undisturbed for many years