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Hilal Altinoz,1 Nalan Adiguzel,2 Cuneyt Salturk,2 Gokay Gungor,2 Ozlem Mocin,2 Huriye Berk Takir,2 Feyza Kargin,2 Merih Balci,2 Oner Dikensoy,1 Zuhal Karakurt2 1Pulmonary Division, Acibadem University School of Medicine, 2Sureyyapasa Thoracic Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey Abstract: Cachexia is known to be a deteriorating factor for survival of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but data related to obesity are limited. We observed that obese patients with COPD prescribed long-term noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) had better survival rate compared to nonobese patients. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective observational cohort study. Archives of Thoracic Diseases Training Hospital were sought between 2008 and 2013. All the subjects were prescribed domiciliary NIMV for chronic respiratory failure secondary to COPD. Subjects were grouped according to their body mass index (BMI). The first group consisted of subjects with BMI between 20 and 30 kg/m2, and the second group consisted of subjects with BMI >30 kg/m2. Data obtained at the first month’s visit for the following parameters were recorded: age, sex, comorbid diseases, smoking history, pulmonary function test, 6-minute walk test (6-MWT), and arterial blood gas analysis. Hospital admissions were recorded before and after the domiciliary NIMV usage. Mortality rate was searched from the electronic database. Overall, 118 subjects were enrolled. Thirty-eight subjects had BMI between 20 and 30 kg/m2, while 80 subjects had BMI >30 kg/m2. The mean age was 65.8±9.4 years, and 81% were male. The median follow-up time was 26 months and mortality rates were 32% and 34% for obese and nonobese subjects (P=0.67). Improvement in 6-MWT was protective against mortality. In conclusion, survival of obese patients with COPD using domiciliary NIMV was found to be better than those of nonobese patients, and the improvement in 6-MWT in such patients was found to be related to a better survival. Keywords: chronic respiratory failure, survival, body mass index, mortality, therapy

Aim: Early identification and treatment of infections in patients using domiciliary non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) due to chronic respiratory failure (CRF) can reduce hospital admissions. We assessed C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin, and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as indicators of infection/inflammation. Methods: The study was designed as a retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study, and was performed in 2016 in an intensive care unit outpatient clinic in patients using NIMV. Patients who came to the outpatient clinic with dyspnea, increased sputum, increased prothrombin, and who had hemogram, procalcitonin, and serum CRP, NLR, and PLT/MPV levels assessed, were enrolled into the study. Demographic characteristics, co-morbid diseases, respiratory symptoms, hemogram, biochemistry, CRP, and procalcitonin values in stable and acute attack patients were recorded from patient files. The descriptive statistics and CRP, NLR, and procalcitonin values were assessed. Results: During the study period, 49 patients (24 female) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, n = 24), obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS, n = 15), or interstitial lung disease, n = 10), and having had three inflammatory markers assessed, were included in the study. Their mean age was 67 (SD ± 12). Stable patients vs. those who had an acute attack was 41 vs. eight, and within 7 days of outpatient admission four patients were hospitalized. CRP, NLR, and PLT/MPV values were similar in patients' who had sputum purulence, and an increase in dyspnea and sputum, but procalcitonin was significantly higher in patients who had an acute attack. Procalcitonin was not correlated with CRP, NLR, and PLT/MPV. Conclusions: Patients with CRF had similar levels of CRP and NLR during a stable and acute attack state. Procalcitonin may be a better marker for therapeutic decisions in advanced chronic inflammatory diseases.

Aims: To investigate patterns of delays among patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and to identify reasons for the delays., Methods: This prospective study included 101 patients with non-small-cell lung carcinoma. Clinical files of the patients were analyzed and a questionnaire was created to obtain data. Several time intervals and delays were determined for each patient. The reasons for the delays were also evaluated., Results: The mean time was 59.9 days for the application interval, 40.3 days for the referral interval, 16.4 days for the diagnostic interval, and 24.7 days for the treatment interval. The application interval was longer than 30 days (patient's delay) in 48 patients (48.5%). There was a doctor delay in 54 (53.5%) patients, a referral delay in 47 (46.5%) patients, a diagnostic delay in 37 (36.6%) patients, and a treatment delay in 57 (56.4%) patients. The mean total time was 119.6 days. Sixty-two patients (62.6%) had a total delay. The most common reason for patient's delay was neglect of symptoms by patients. A low index of suspicion for lung cancer was the most common cause for referral delay. The low performance of diagnostic tests was the frequent reason for diagnostic delay., Conclusions: Patient's and doctor's delays were a common problem among patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. The rate of doctor's delay was higher than that of patient's delay. Several efforts such as education of the physicians and people about lung cancer should be made to reduce these delays.

To compare volume- and pressure- controlled ventilation (VCV-PCV) as an initial ventilatory mode in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Case-control study conducted in respiratory intensive care unit (RICU) at a large teaching hospital, between January 2002 and January 2004. PCV was applied in 20 COPD patients with ARF more than 24 hours. Their outcomes were compared with those of a control group of 20 COPD patients matched on age, sex, Acute Physiology Assessment and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, pH and PaCO(2) at the time of intubation previously treated with VCV. The effectiveness of matching was 99%. Groups were compared according to complication and mortality rates, total duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and length of RICU stay. Mortality and complication rates, and length of RICU stay were similar in groups but, the mean duration of MV was longer in PCV (198 +/- 177 h vs. 79 +/- 56 h, p< 0.003). PCV group spended significantly longer IMV hours for weaning period (138.6 +/- 164 vs. 34 +/- 33 h, p< 0.01), pre-weaning periods of IMV were found similar. These data suggest that both ventilatory approach have similar outcomes in COPD patients with ARF. Randomize-controlled trials are needed to confirm our results.