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This article cites a study assessing the short-term and long-term effects of nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) in patients with obesity-hypoventilation syndrome (OHS). OHS is a clinical entity that is characterized by the coexistence of obesity and hypercapnia during wakefulness. From March 1995 to December 2002, OHS was diagnosed in 69 patients. Fifteen patients rejected the treatment with domiciliary NIPPV. NIPPV therapy was started electively in 20 patients and following an episode of acute respiratory failure in the remaining 34 patients. Data were collected by reviewing the records of the Hospital Xeral-Calde using a standardized form. Among the total 54 study patients, sleep apnea syndrome was present in 87% of the patients. None of these patients required orotracheal intubation after NIPPV treatment. Findings of the study confirmed that NIPPV therapy is effective in the treatment of patients with OHS.

Background: The incidence and clinical significance of pulmonary residual thrombosis 6 months after an acute pulmonary embolism (PE) are still not well-known. Purpose: To evaluate the association between residual vascular obstruction and the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) recurrence or death. Material and Methods: Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) was repeated in 97 consecutive patients 6 months after an acute episode of hemodynamically stable pulmonary embolism. We assessed the long-term consequences of residual thrombosis on vital status and incidence of recurrent VTE. Results: Six patients were lost for follow-up. The remaining 91 patients were classified according to the presence (Group 1: 18 cases) or absence (Group 2: 73 cases) of residual pulmonary vascular obstruction. After a mean ± SD of 2.91 ± 0.99 years, there were eight (8.8%) deaths and 11 (12.1%) VTE recurrences. Groups 1 and 2 did not differ in the incidence of death or VTE recurrence. Conclusion: Persistent pulmonary vascular obstruction on 6-month CTPA did not predict long-term adverse outcome events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]