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El daño vascular ocasionado por el tabaquismo produce más muertes que el cáncer de pulmón. Existen técnicas mínimamente invasivas que permiten estudiar dichas alteraciones vasculares en diversas patologías, como lo es la capilaroscopia del lecho ungueal. Este estudio observacional transversal, tuvo como objetivo principal evaluar la asociación entre tabaquismo, enfisema pulmonar y daño microvascular medido; a través, de la capilaroscopia del lecho ungueal. Se incluyeron treinta pacientes, siete fumadores activos, diecisiete exfumadores y seis no fumadores de la consulta de Neumonología del Centro Médico Docente la Trinidad, a quienes se les había realizado estudios complementarios como hemoglobina, espirometría, difusión de monóxido de carbono y tomografía computarizada de alta resolución del tórax, a los que posteriormente se les contactó telefónicamente para realizar, de manera cegada, la capilaroscopia, que fue analizada por dos observadores independientes.Los resultados demostraron que los fumadores, tanto activos como exfumadores, presentaron mayor proporción de alteraciones capilaroscópicas, como dilataciones capilares y megacapilares (p: 0,01; 0,002; respectivamente), sin asociación con la presencia de enfisema pulmonar, ni con la disminución de difusión de monóxido de carbono. El acuerdo entre ambos observadores en la capilaroscopia del lecho ungueal fue moderado (Kappa de Cohen: 0,59).En conclusión, el estudio muestra la relación de hallazgos anormales en la capilaroscopia y el tabaco, indistintamente del diagnóstico de enfisema pulmonar y hallazgos anormales en las pruebas de función pulmonar; sugiriendo el potencial efecto vascular del tabaquismo, independiente del daño pulmonar.

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La concomitancia de fibrosis pulmonar en regiones inferiores del pulmón y enfisema en lóbulos superiores caracterizan a una entidad poco frecuente denominada síndrome combinado de fibrosis pulmonar y enfisema, que usualmente se asocia a alta carga de tabaquismo, aunque se describen otras asociaciones y que conlleva un pronóstico sombrío. La hipertensión pulmonar, el cáncer de pulmón y la exacerbación aguda son complicaciones posibles. En el contexto de un enfoque multidisciplinar de manejo de tres casos, relatamos el curso del tratamiento con pirfenidona.

α1-antitrypsin (AATD) deficiency is a genetic condition that causes low levels of this protein whose main function is to inhibit serine proteases, leading mainly to lung and liver damage. We describe the case of a 61-year-old man with symptoms of dyspnea, fixed airflow obstruction, decreased CO2 diffusion capacity and lung volumes that demonstrated hyperinflation, with low exposure risk, in whom severely decreased α1- antitrypsin levels were evident. Subsequently, a genotypic study was carried out that confirmed the presence of PI*Z alleles (PI*ZZ), considering it a serious decrease. This required initiation of intravenous alpha 1 antitrypsin therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A deficiência de alfa-1 antitripsina (AAT) (AATD) é um distúrbio hereditário codominante autossômico raro que afeta principalmente os pulmões e o fígado1. O único estudo brasileiro que relata a prevalência de A1ATD estima que 2,8% dos pacientes com DPOC apresentam essa deficiência.2 O objetivo deste relato de caso consiste em demonstrar a necessidade de investigar A1ATD diante da caracterização por critérios clínicos, funcionais e radiológicos, evitando o subdiagnóstico e a deterioração do quadro clínico por limitação de seguimento.

Introducción. El objetivo de este artículo fue reportar el caso de un paciente con antecedente de enfisema bulloso bilateral que le ocasionó un neumotórax persistente de difícil tratamiento. Caso clínico. Se trata de un paciente de 50 años de edad con diagnóstico de neumotórax asociado con un enfisema bulloso bilateral, en quien estaba contraindicado el tratamiento quirúrgico. El cuadro clínico comenzó con dolor en el hemitórax derecho y disnea, que se fue intensificando hasta el punto de no tolerar el decúbito. En la radiografía de tórax se observó colapso del pulmón derecho con múltiples bulas en ambos pulmones, por lo que se practicó una pleurotomía mínima alta derecha. La evolución del paciente no fue favorable por persistir el neumotórax, lo cual llevó al uso de un tratamiento alternativo. Discusión. En los pacientes con neumotórax persistente por enfisema bulloso bilateral sin indicación quirúrgica, el talco es una alternativa menos invasiva para lograr una sínfisis pleural con buenos resultados, método cuya utilidad se demuestra.

Resumen: Objetivo. Estudiar la asociación entre el grado de tabaquismo y la aparición de enfisema en pacientes con antecedentes de exposición al asbesto en nuestra región. Material y métodos. Se estudian los datos de exposición al tabaco y se revisan los estudios de TC torácica de los pacientes incluidos en el protocolo de revisión por exposición laboral previa al amianto realizados entre junio de 2012 y agosto de 2013, registrando tanto su condición de no fumadores, ex-fumadores o fumadores, como su grado de tabaquismo acumulado (cuando corresponda), así como clasificando a los pacientes en función de la aparición de datos de enfisema (paraseptal, centrolobulillar o difuso) en los estudios de imagen. Resultados. Se incluyeron un total de 55 pacientes. Se demostró una diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p=0,006) al comparar los datos de tabaquismo acumulado en número de paquetes/año para los pacientes que presentaban enfisema paraseptal respecto a los que no, siendo la media de paquetes/año de 55,60 (± 28,25) paquetes/año frente a 28,19 ± 23,25 paquetes/año. Conclusiones. Los pacientes con enfisema expuestos al amianto presentan mayor tasa de tabaquismo que aquellos que no presentan enfisema. Abstract: Objective. To study the correlation between the level of smoking and the appearance of emphysema in patients with a history of asbestos exposure in our region. Material and methods. Patients included in the screening program of asbestos exposure are reviewed, including both smoke habit and thoracic CT studies of patients valuated between June 2012 and August 2013. Their status as non-smokers, former and current smokers, as well as their accumulated smoking rate (when applicable), were recorded. Patients were classified according to the presence of paraseptal, centrolobulillar or diffuse emphysema in imaging studies. Results. A total of 55 patients were included. A statistically significant difference (p = 0.006) was found when comparing cumulative smoking data in number of packages / year for patients with paraseptal emphysema compared to patients without emphysema (55.60 ± 28.25 packages / year versus 28.19 ± 23.25 packages / year). Conclusions. Patients previously exposed to asbestos with emphysema present a higher tobacco rate that patients exposed to asbestos without emphysema.

Interrupting the air in the lung epithelium air blockade appears, which in the neonatal period has great risk. An investigation of descriptive retrospective type was conducted with elements of mixed approach to characterize the variables associated with air blockade in newborns treated at the Neonatology Service of “Mariana Grajales” Hospital from 2012 to 2014. The study of population consisted of 60 infants admitted to those who were diagnosed air leak. The information obtained was processed statistically and displayed in tables and graphs, to identify significant differences between categories,the independence test Chi square was used. The incidence of air blockade was around 3.0%, the highest gestational age of 37 weeks (69%) was closely related to the air escape, pneumomediastinum was the most frequent form of presentation (56.6%), in almost half of the air leaks the etiology was idiopathic, in most newborns showed an optimal recovery, tenth part of blocked neonates died and the fundamental underlying cause of death was immaturity.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact that the distribution of emphysema has on clinical and functional severity in patients with COPD. METHODS: The distribution of the emphysema was analyzed in COPD patients, who were classified according to a 5-point visual classification system of lung CT findings. We assessed the influence of emphysema distribution type on the clinical and functional presentation of COPD. We also evaluated hypoxemia after the six-minute walk test (6MWT) and determined the six-minute walk distance (6MWD). RESULTS: Eighty-six patients were included. The mean age was 65.2 ± 12.2 years, 91.9% were male, and all but one were smokers (mean smoking history, 62.7 ± 38.4 pack-years). The emphysema distribution was categorized as obviously upper lung-predominant (type 1), in 36.0% of the patients; slightly upper lung-predominant (type 2), in 25.6%; homogeneous between the upper and lower lung (type 3), in 16.3%; and slightly lower lung-predominant (type 4), in 22.1%. Type 2 emphysema distribution was associated with lower FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC ratio, and DLCO. In comparison with the type 1 patients, the type 4 patients were more likely to have an FEV1 < 65% of the predicted value (OR = 6.91, 95% CI: 1.43-33.45; p = 0.016), a 6MWD < 350 m (OR = 6.36, 95% CI: 1.26-32.18; p = 0.025), and post-6MWT hypoxemia (OR = 32.66, 95% CI: 3.26-326.84; p = 0.003). The type 3 patients had a higher RV/TLC ratio, although the difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The severity of COPD appears to be greater in type 4 patients, and type 3 patients tend to have greater hyperinflation. The distribution of emphysema could have a major impact on functional parameters and should be considered in the evaluation of COPD patients.

Copyright of Galicia Clínica is the property of Sociedad Gallega de Medicina Interna and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira is the property of Colegio Brasileiro de Patologia Animal - CBPA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Tracheal diverticulum, defined as a benign outpouching of the tracheal wall, is rarely diagnosed in clinical practice. It can be congenital or acquired in origin, and most cases are asymptomatic, typically being diagnosed postmortem. We report a case of a 69-year-old woman who was hospitalized after presenting with fever, fatigue, pleuritic chest pain, and a right neck mass complicated by dysphagia. Her medical history was significant: pulmonary emphysema (alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency); bronchiectasis; and thyroidectomy. On physical examination, she presented diminished breath sounds and muffled heart sounds, with a systolic murmur. Laboratory tests revealed elevated inflammatory markers, a CT scan showed an air-filled, multilocular mass in the right tracheal wall, and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the CT findings. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy failed to reveal any abnormalities. Nevertheless, the patient was diagnosed with tracheal diverticulum. The treatment approach was conservative, consisting mainly of antibiotics. After showing clinical improvement, the patient was discharged.

Descrevem-se os dados epidemiológicos, os sinais clínicos e as lesões de quatro surtos da doença do edema e enfisema pulmonar agudo em bovinos (EEPAB) nos estados de Santa Catarina e Paraná e sua reprodução experimental. A doença espontânea ocorreu após transferência de bovinos de pastagem madura e seca para outra jovem e viçosa. Todos os bovinos afetados eram vacas das raças holandês e pardo suíço. Os principais sinais clínicos foram dispneia e respiração abdominal dificultosa com o pescoço estendido e a boca aberta. Apresentaram, também, enfisema subcutâneo, queda na produção de leite e recuperação lenta ou morte. Os achados de necropsia foram restritos ao pulmão o qual tinha coloração vermelho escuro, não colabado, de aspecto brilhante e hipercriptante com enfisema interlobular acentuado. As lesões histológicas no pulmão consistiam principalmente de enfisema alveolar e interlobular intercalado por áreas de congestão e edema, degeneração hialina da parede dos alvéolos e infiltrado de macrófagos e eosinófilos, moderado, difuso. A reprodução experimental da doença foi realizada em um bovino, com administração de 0,7mg/kg de peso corporal de L-triptofano por via oral em dose única. O animal morreu no sétimo dia de experimento. Os sinais clínicos e lesões foram idênticos aos observados na doença espontânea.

Pulmonary emphysema disease is a major public health problem; is currently the 12th because of disease burden worldwide, and projections indicate that by 2020 will be the fifth cause of loss of years and quality of life. The causes of the emphysema are related with smoking and deficiency of alpha 1-antitrypsin, but smoking is the most common. High resolutioncomputed tomography (HRTC) of chest and its tecniches of quantities analisys of emphysema providing a stunning advance in knowledge of pulmonary emphysema. HRTC brought changes in many concepts about the disease, helping in treatment, diagnosis and prognosis of the patient and beneficiating this group. According to the clinical staging of the disease, the treatment can be used an association of corticosteroid and beta 2-agonist. The article have the objective of relating a case of a patient that's got emphysema and how the methods were used to close the diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To review the cases of patients with congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) submitted to surgical treatment at two university hospitals over a 30-year period. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of children with CLE undergoing surgical treatment between 1979 and 2009 at the Botucatu School of Medicine Hospital das Clínicas or the Mogi das Cruzes University Hospital. We analyzed data regarding symptoms, physical examination, radiographic findings, diagnosis, surgical treatment, and postoperative follow-up. RESULTS: During the period studied, 20 children with CLE underwent surgery. The mean age at the time of surgery was 6.9 months (range, 9 days to 4 years). All of the cases presented with symptoms at birth or during the first months of life. In all cases, chest X-rays were useful in defining the diagnosis. In cases of moderate respiratory distress, chest CT facilitated the diagnosis. One patient with severe respiratory distress was misdiagnosed with hypertensive pneumothorax and underwent chest tube drainage. Only patients with moderate respiratory distress were submitted to bronchoscopy, which revealed no tracheobronchial abnormalities. The surgical approach was lateral muscle-sparing thoracotomy. The left upper and middle lobes were the most often affected, followed by the right upper lobe. Lobectomy was performed in 18 cases, whereas bilobectomy was performed in 2 (together with bronchogenic cyst resection in 1 of those). No postoperative complications were observed. Postoperative follow-up time was at least 24 months (mean, 60 months), and no late complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Although CLE is an uncommon, still neglected disease of uncertain etiology, the radiological diagnosis is easily made and surgical treatment is effective.

OBJETIVO: Investigar os efeitos da idade no enfisema pulmonar, com base nos valores do índice de enfisema (IE) em uma coorte de pacientes que nunca fumou e que não possuía doença pulmonar conhecida. MÉTODOS: Foram revisados exames de TC, considerados normais, de 315 pacientes. Tabagismo, doenças cardiorrespiratórias e exposição a drogas que poderiam causar doença pulmonar foram critérios de exclusão. Dessa coorte, selecionamos 32 pacientes (16 homens e 16 mulheres), igualmente divididos em dois grupos (idade < 50 anos e idade > 50 anos), que foram pareados por gênero e índice de massa corpórea. Realizou-se a quantificação do enfisema utilizando um programa específico. O IE foi calculado com um limiar de -950 UH. O volume pulmonar total (VPT) e a densidade pulmonar média (DPM) também foram avaliados. RESULTADOS: As médias gerais de VPT, DPM e IE foram 5.027 mL, -827 UH e 2,54%, respectivamente. A comparação entre os mais velhos e os mais novos mostrou as seguintes médias: VPT, 5.229 mL vs. 4.824 mL (p > 0,05); DPM, -846 UH vs. -813 UH (p < 0,04) e IE, 3,30% vs. 1,28% (p < 0,001). Houve correlações significativas entre IE e idade (r = 0,66; p = 0,001), IE e VPT (r = 0,58; p = 0,001) e IE e DPM (r = -0,67; p < 0,001). O IE previsto por idade foi definido através da equação de regressão (r² = 0,43): p50(IE) = 0,049 × idade - 0,5353. CONCLUSÕES: É importante considerar a influência da idade na quantificação de enfisema em pacientes com mais de 50 anos. Baseado na análise de regressão, valores de IE de 2,6%, 3,5% e 4,5% podem ser considerados normais para pacientes com 30, 50 e 70 anos, respectivamente.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of age on pulmonary emphysema, based on the values of the emphysema index (EI) in a cohort of patients who had never smoked and who had no recognizable lung disease. METHODS: We reviewed the CT scans, reported as normal, of 315 patients. Exclusion criteria were a history of smoking, cardiorespiratory disease, and exposure to drugs that could cause lung disease. From this cohort, we selected 32 patients (16 men and 16 women), matched for gender and body mass index, who were divided equally into two groups by age (< 50 years and > 50 years). We quantified emphysema using a computer program specific to that task. The EI was calculated with a threshold of -950 HU. We also evaluated total lung volume (TLV) and mean lung density (MLD). RESULTS: The overall means for TLV, MLD, and EI were 5,027 mL, -827 HU, and 2.54%, respectively. Mean values in the older and younger groups, respectively, were as follows: for TLV, 5,229 mL vs. 4,824 mL (p > 0.05); for MLD, -846 HU vs. -813 HU (p < 0.04); and for EI, 3.30% vs. 1.28% (p < 0.001). Significant correlations were found between EI and age (r = 0.66; p = 0.001), EI and TLV (r = 0.58; p = 0.001), and EI and MLD (r = -0.67; p < 0.001). The predicted EI per age was defined by the regression equation (r² = 0.43): p50(EI) = 0.049 × age - 0.5353. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to consider the influence of age when quantifying emphysema in patients over 50 years of age. Based on the regression analysis, EI values of 2.6%, 3.5%, and 4.5% can be considered normal for patients 30, 50, and 70 years of age, respectively.

La enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica se ha convertido en una de las enfermedades crónicas atendidas con mayor frecuencia en la atención primaria de salud. Produce altas tasas de morbilidad y mortalidad en todo el mundo, con una evolución lenta aunque progresivamente mortal, a pesar de tratarse de una enfermedad prevenible, que depende en gran medida, del hábito de fumar. La prevalencia variará según el consumo de tabaco, y se espera que siga aumentando en los próximos 25 años. La mortalidad y morbilidad son cada vez mayores, lo que supone un enorme gasto sanitario, social y personal, pero es una enfermedad potencialmente modificable, motivo por el que requiere de un abordaje multifactorial.Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease has become one of the most frequently treated chronic diseases in primary health care. High rates of morbidity and mortality are worldwide related to this disease. Although it is a preventable disease closely related to smoking, its evolution is slow but progressively fatal. Prevalence varies according to tobacco consumption and is expected to increase in the next 25 years. Even when it is a potentially modifiable disease, mortality and morbidity are also increasing, causing a major health, social and personal spending. For all these reasons, a multifactorial approach is needed both, for health and social issues.

Apesar das medidas de prevenção, a hiperinsuflação pulmonar é uma complicação relativamente comum após transplantes unilaterais por enfisema. Quando progressiva, pode comprimir o pulmão transplantado, gerando desvio mediastinal e insuficiência respiratória. Além de estratégias terapêuticas como a ventilação independente, o tratamento consiste na redução volumétrica do pulmão nativo, seja por meio de cirurgia redutora, seja por lobectomia. São relatados dois casos de hiperinsuflação do pulmão nativo após transplante pulmonar, tratados com redução volumétrica do pulmão por meio de lobectomia ou cirurgia redutora.Despite preventive measures, lung hyperinflation is a relatively common complication following single lung transplantation to treat pulmonary emphysema. The progressive compression of the graft can cause mediastinal shift and respiratory failure. In addition to therapeutic strategies such as independent ventilation, the treatment consists of the reduction of native lung volume by means of lobectomy or lung volume reduction surgery. We report two cases of native lung hyperinflation after single lung transplantation. Both cases were treated by means of lobectomy or lung volume reduction surgery.

OBJETIVO: Determinar as principais malformações congênitas pulmonares e os principais métodos diagnósticos utilizados, assim como as indicações de tratamento cirúrgico e os seus resultados em um serviço de referência de cirurgia torácica pediátrica. MÉTODOS: Foram revisados 52 prontuários de pacientes com diagnóstico anatomopatológico de malformações congênitas pulmonares e que foram submetidos à ressecção pulmonar entre janeiro de 1997 e dezembro de 2006. Os critérios de exclusão foram idade > 12 anos e dados clínicos incompletos. A amostra final foi composta de 35 pacientes. RESULTADOS: Nesta amostra, a média de idade foi de 31 meses, com predominância do sexo masculino (n = 21). Os achados anatomopatológicos foram malformação adenomatoide cística (n = 14), enfisema lobar congênito (n = 13), sequestro pulmonar (n = 8), e malformação arteriovenosa (n = 1). A ressecção mais comum foi a lobectomia inferior esquerda (25,71%), seguida por diferentes tipos de segmentectomia (22,85%), lobectomia superior esquerda (22,85%), lobectomia superior direita (14,28%), lobectomia inferior direita (8,57%) e lobectomia média (5,71%). Dos 35 pacientes, 34 (97,14%) foram submetidos à drenagem pleural fechada, com tempo médio de permanência do dreno torácico de 3,9 dias. Dez pacientes (28,5%) apresentaram complicações pós-operatórias. Não houve óbitos nesta série. CONCLUSÕES: A ressecção pulmonar para o tratamento das malformações pulmonares é um procedimento seguro, apresentando baixa morbidade e nenhuma mortalidade em um serviço de referência para doenças pulmonares.OBJECTIVE: To determine the main congenital lung malformations treated and the principal diagnostic methods employed, as well as the indications for surgical treatment and the results obtained, at a referral facility for pediatric thoracic surgery. METHODS: We reviewed the medical charts of 52 patients anatomopathologically diagnosed with congenital lung malformations and who had been submitted to pulmonary resection between January of 1997 and December of 2006. Exclusion criteria were age > 12 years and incomplete clinical data. The final sample comprised 35 patients. RESULTS: In this sample, the mean age was 31 months, and there was a predominance of males (n = 21). The anatomopathological findings were cystic adenomatoid malformation (n = 14), congenital lobar emphysema (n = 13), pulmonary sequestration (n = 8) and arteriovenous malformation (n = 1). The most common type of lung resection was left lower lobectomy (in 25.71%) followed by different types of segmentectomy (in 22.85%), left upper lobectomy (in 22.85%), right upper lobectomy (in 14.28%), right lower lobectomy (in 8.57%) and middle lobectomy (in 5.71%). Of the 35 patients, 34 (97.14%) were submitted to closed pleural drainage, with a mean duration of thoracic drainage of 3.9 days. Ten patients (28.5%) presented with postoperative complications. There were no deaths in our sample. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary resection for the treatment of congenital lung malformations is a safe procedure, presenting low morbidity and no mortality at a referral facility for pediatric thoracic surgery.

A histoplasmose é uma micose sistêmica causada pelo fungo dimórfico térmico Histoplasma capsulatum, que pode ser isolado a partir de solo contaminado com excrementos de aves e morcegos. Dentre as apresentações clínicas dessa doença, a histoplasmose pulmonar cavitária crônica (HPCC) é uma manifestação rara. O diagnóstico diferencial com tuberculose deve ser realizado em pacientes que apresentam lesões cavitadas nos segmentos pulmonares superiores. É relatado um caso de uma paciente com HPCC que apresentou dispneia progressiva e piora do padrão radiológico em quatro anos de evolução da doença.Histoplasmosis is a systemic mycosis caused by the thermally dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, which can be isolated from soil contaminated with droppings from birds or bats. Chronic cavitary pulmonary histoplasmosis is one of the rarest clinical presentations of this disease. The differential diagnosis with tuberculosis should be made in patients presenting with cavitated lesions in upper lung segments. We report the case of a female patient with chronic cavitary pulmonary histoplasmosis who had presented with progressive dyspnea and worsening of the radiological pattern over a four-year period.

OBJETIVO: Relatar os resultados obtidos no pré- e pós-operatório de três pacientes portadores de enfisema pulmonar difuso grave, empregando uma nova técnica: ventilação colateral com drenagem do parênquima pulmonar. MÉTODOS: Para a avaliação da drenagem pulmonar, foram selecionados pacientes que já haviam sido submetidos à terapêutica clínica máxima, incluindo a reabilitação pulmonar, e que ainda assim sofriam de falência respiratória com dispnéia incapacitante. Os pacientes foram submetidos, no pré- e no pós operatório, à pletismografia e ao teste da caminhada de seis minutos, assim como responderam aos seguintes questionários de qualidade de vida: Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey, Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status e Medical Research Council Scale. Todos os pacientes tiveram seguimento de no mínimo 300 dias de pós-operatório. Os testes foram realizados no pré-operatório, entre 30 e 40 dias de pós-operatório e após 300 dias de pós-operatório. Os dados foram analisados pelo método de gráficos de perfis de médias. RESULTADOS: Quando comparados os resultados do pré-operatório com os do pós-operatório nos dois momentos, verificou-se que houve melhora em todos os parâmetros estudados. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados sugerem que a técnica operatória proposta para o tratamento de doentes portadores de enfisema pulmonar difuso grave foi capaz de diminuir os sintomas debilitantes destes pacientes, tornando sua qualidade de vida muito melhor.OBJECTIVE: To report the results obtained in three patients with diffuse pulmonary emphysema during the pre- and post-operative periods following a new surgical technique: collateral ventilation with lung parenchyma drainage. METHODS: Patients suffering from pulmonary failure and disabling dyspnea, despite having received the gold standard treatment, including pulmonary rehabilitation, were selected for the evaluation of pulmonary drainage. During the pre- and post-operative periods, patients were submitted to plethysmography and six-minute walk tests, as well as completing the following quality of life questionnaires: Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey, Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status and Medical Research Council Scale. In all three cases, the postoperative follow-up period was at least 300 days. The tests were performed at the following time points: during the pre-operative period; between post-operative days 30 and 40; and on post-operative day 300. Data were analyzed using profile plots of the means. RESULTS: When the results obtained in the pre-operative period were compared to those obtained at the two post-operative time points evaluated, improvements were observed in all parameters studied. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the surgical technique proposed for the treatment of patients suffering from severe diffuse emphysema successfully reduces the debilitating symptoms of these patients, improving their quality of life considerably.

OBJETIVO: Descrever os achados clínicos e funcionais de pacientes com enfisema em lobos superiores e fibrose pulmonar idiopática (FPI) em lobos inferiores, recentemente descrita na literatura. MÉTODOS: Um grupo de 11 pacientes com a presença simultânea de enfisema e FPI foi identificado retrospectivamente. Todos os pacientes realizaram tomografia computadorizada de tórax com alta resolução e provas de função pulmonar. RESULTADOS: Entre os 11 pacientes identificados, havia 8 homens e 3 mulheres, com média de idade de 70,7 ± 7,2 anos (variação, 61-86 anos). Todos os pacientes eram tabagistas (carga tabágica, 61,5 ± 43,5 anos-maço). As médias da capacidade vital forçada (CVF), do volume expiratório forçado no primeiro segundo (VEF1) e da relação VEF1/CVF foram 72,1% ± 12,7%, 68,2% ± 11,9% e 74,4 ± 10,8, respectivamente. Os volumes pulmonares foram normais em 7 pacientes. Um padrão restritivo foi observado em 3 pacientes e hiperinsuflação estava presente em um. A capacidade de difusão pulmonar apresentou redução moderada a grave em todos os pacientes (média, 27,7% ± 12,9% do previsto). No teste da caminhada de seis minutos, realizado por 10 pacientes, a distância caminhada média foi de 358,4 ± 143,1 m, ocorrendo dessaturação >4% em 9 pacientes. Achados ecocardiográficos sugestivos de hipertensão pulmonar estavam presentes em 4 pacientes (média da pressão sistólica da artéria pulmonar, 61,8 mmHg; variação, 36-84 mmHg). CONCLUSÕES: A presença simultânea de enfisema e FPI causa alterações características nas provas de função pulmonar. O achado mais importante é a discrepância entre a capacidade de difusão e a espirometria.OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and functional findings recently reported in the medical literature for patients diagnosed with emphysema involving the upper lobes and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) involving the lower lobes. METHODS: Eleven patients with emphysema and IPF were identified retrospectively. All of the patients underwent high-resolution computed tomography of the lung and pulmonary function tests. RESULTS: Of the 11 patients, 8 were male and 3 were female. The mean age was 70.7 ± 7.2 years (range, 61-86 years). All of the patients were smokers (mean smoking history, 61.5 ± 43.5 pack-years). The mean values of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and FEV1/FVC were 72.1% ± 12.7%, 68.2% ± 11.9% and 74.4 ± 10.8, respectively. Lung volumes were normal in 7 patients. A restrictive pattern was observed in 3 patients, and hyperinflation was present in one. The diffusing capacity was moderately-to-severely reduced in all of the patients (mean, 27.7% ± 12.9% of predicted). Ten of the 11 patients performed the six-minute walk test. The mean distance covered was 358.4 ± 143.1 m, and 9 of the 10 patients presented desaturation > 4%. Echocardiographic findings suggestive of pulmonary hypertension were present in 4 patients (mean systolic pulmonary artery pressure, 61.8 mmHg; range, 36-84 mmHg). CONCLUSIONS: The concomitant presence of emphysema and IPF causes characteristic changes on pulmonary function tests. The most significant finding is a discrepancy between diffusing capacity and spirometry results.

Apresentação de um protocolo, para testar uma nova opção de tratamento operatório nos doentes portadores de enfisema pulmonar difuso, nos quais a terapêutica clínica máxima, incluindo a reabilitação pulmonar, foi realizada e ainda assim, existe falência respiratória com dispnéia incapacitante. Serão avaliados dez doentes portadores de hiperinsuflação pulmonar grave. O método propõe promover passagens expiratórias alternativas à via aérea principal para o ar aprisionado no pulmão enfisematoso, por meio de uma drenagem do parênquima pulmonar, comunicando os alvéolos ao meio exterior. Serão selecionados dez doentes, com os consentimentos informados assinados, e com a aprovação do Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo. Os doentes selecionados deverão obedecer os critérios de inclusão para participar deste estudo. O protocolo de avaliação do procedimento proposto é viável e ao final será capaz de mostrar, se de fato há ou não benefício para um doente debilitado e sofrido, quando hoje as únicas soluções são o transplante de pulmão ou a cirurgia redutora de volume pulmonar.We present a protocol to test a new surgical procedure for the treatment of patients with diffuse lung emphysema who, after having received the golden standard treatment (pulmonary rehabilitation), continue to present respiratory failure with disabling dyspnea. Ten patients with severe lung hyperinflation will be evaluated. The method proposed is designed to create alternative expiratory passages for air trapped in the emphysematous lung by draining the lung parenchyma, thereby establishing communication between the alveoli and the external environment. The ten patients selected will be required to meet the inclusion criteria and to give written informed consent. Those ten patients will be included in the study pending the approval of the Ethics in Research Committee of the São Paulo Santa Casa School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil. The protocol we will employ in order to evaluate the proposed procedure is feasible and will show whether debilitated patients suffering from diffuse pulmonary emphysema can benefit from this procedure, which could represent an alternative to lung transplant or lung volume reduction surgery, the only options currently available.

Asma y enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) son enfermedades pulmonares comunes con semejanzas y diferencias. Estudios genéticos recientes han dado información importante acerca de los múltiples loci susceptibles para cada enfermedad. Estudios del genoma han mostrado resultados similares en al menos una región cromosomal en ambas enfermedades, así como también evidencia de la interacción con factores ambientales (por ejemplo, el fumado activo en los pacientes con EPOC, o el pasivo en aquellos con asma). Existen pocos estudios recientes acerca del remodelamiento de la vía aérea y su importancia en pacientes asmáticos persistentes crónicos, lo que podría explicar de cierta forma la progresión de estas personas a enfermedades pulmonares obstructivas crónicas.Asthma and COPD are common pulmonary diseases with similarities and differences. Recent genetic studies have given important information about multiple susceptible loci for both diseases. Studies of the genome have showed similar results in at least a chromosomal region in both diseases and demonstrate the interaction the environmental factors (for example, active smoking in the patients with COPD, or passive smoking in those with asthma). Currently there are few recent studies about airway remodelling and its importance in chronic persistent asthmatic patients, this might explain in some way the progression of these persons to chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.

Se presenta el caso de una paciente femenina de un año de edad, que al mes de nacida debutó con dificultad respiratoria relacionada con los esfuerzos, específicamente al llanto y durante el proceso de amamantamiento, constatándose esto al examen físico y encontrándose, además, discreto tiraje subcostal y bajo, así como frecuencia respiratoria que oscilaba entre 65 y 70 por minuto, sin cianosis y el resto del examen físico negativo. El estudio radiológico practicado (Rx de tórax anteroposterior y lateral, así como TAC de pulmón) confirmó el diagnóstico de Enfisema Lobar Congénito. El estudio se completo, para descartar otras afecciones asociadas. Luego de una valoración multidisciplinaria, en la que se tuvo en cuenta la clínica que presentó la paciente, se decidió no practicar tratamiento quirúrgico y dar seguimiento clínico-radiológico periódico. Durante este primer año la evolución de la paciente ha sido satisfactoria. Se hizo una revisión del tema, y se concluyó que las malformaciones congénitas del pulmón no son tan frecuentes, pero sí se necesita de un diagnóstico rápido, para definir adecuadamente la conducta terapéutica.

The food inspection must ensure the hygienic quality and technology of food. Slaughterhouses provide an excellent opportunity for detecting diseases of both economic and public health. The objective of this work was to verify the occurrence of lung condemnations of cattle slaughtered under the SIF (Federal Inspection Service) in slaughterhouses in the months of March and April from 2001 to 2006 in the state of Paraná. Among the 146,751 lungs of cattle surveyed in three cattle slaughter plants inspected under the SIF, in the State of Paraná, 7.68% of the cattle had lung condemnations, such aspiration of blood (34.6%) and emphysema (33%) and aspiration ruminal (21.5%) and pulmonary congestion (10.9%). These data require that a new study have to be done to determine failures in slaughter line as the stunning of animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUÇÃO: A cirurgia redutora de volume pulmonar é uma alternativa terapêutica para o enfisema pulmonar avançado. A avaliação radiológica do tipo e distribuição do enfisema parece ser o principal critério de indicação cirúrgica, além da função pulmonar. OBJETIVO: Determinar o nível de evidência científica referente ao padrão radiológico do candidato ideal à cirurgia redutora de volume pulmonar. MÉTODO: Revisão sistemática da literatura entre janeiro de 1994 e janeiro de 2004, utilizando as bases de dados: MEDLINE, EMbase, LILACS, The Cochrane Library e EBM Reviews. RESULTADOS: Foram identificados 208 artigos e 16 deles preenchiam os critérios do estudo. Destes, dois eram randomizados (um multicêntrico, denominado National Emphysema Treatment Trial, envolvendo 1.218 pacientes; e outro que, embora randomizado, com apenas 30 pacientes). Os 14 remanescentes eram estudos observacionais. O National Emphysema Treatment Trial identificou um subgrupo de pacientes de prognóstico favorável, quando submetidos à cirurgia redutora de volume pulmonar, formado por portadores de enfisema pulmonar avançado e heterogêneo, com predomínio nos lobos superiores, na presença de hiperdistensão pulmonar difusa e baixa capacidade para exercícios físicos. O padrão dos resultados dos demais estudos foi consistente na análise individual, apesar de sua heterogeneidade. Benefício cirúrgico, taxas de mortalidade e qualidade de vida também foram mensurados nos estudos observacionais. CONCLUSÃO: O perfil radiológico caracterizado pelo tipo de enfisema, sua heterogeneidade, distribuição e presença de hiperdistensão difusa, ao lado do nível de gravidade, representa o principal fator preditor de bom resultado cirúrgico. Esta recomendação tem o nível de evidência B, pela escassez de trabalhos na literatura.BACKGROUND: Lung volume reduction surgery is an alternative treatment for advanced pulmonary emphysema. Radiological evaluation of the type and distribution of emphysema, together with the results of pulmonary function testing, seem to be the main criteria used in deciding whether or not the procedure is indicated. OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent of scientific evidence available regarding the radiological profile of the ideal candidate for lung volume reduction surgery. METHOD: A systematic review of the literature from January 1994 to January 2004 using the following databases: MEDLINE, EMbase, LILACS, The Cochrane Library and EBM Reviews. RESULTS: Of 208 articles identified, 16 met the study criteria. Two were randomized (one multicentric, named the 'National Emphysema Treatment Trial' and including 1218 patients, and the other including only 30 patients). The other 14 articles were observational studies. The National Emphysema Treatment Trial identified a subgroup of patients with favorable prognoses when submitted to lung volume reduction surgery. This group consisted of patients with advanced heterogeneous pulmonary emphysema with upper lobe predominance, diffuse pulmonary distention and low exercise capacity. The pattern of the results obtained in the remainder of the studies was consistent with the individual analyses, despite their heterogeneity. In the observational studies, surgical benefit, mortality rates and quality of life were assessed. CONCLUSION: The radiological pattern, characterized by the type, heterogeneity, distribution and diffuse distention, together with the degree of emphysema severity, represents the main predictor of a positive surgical outcome. Due to the paucity of studies in the literature, this is a grade B recommendation.

INTRODUÇÃO: A cirurgia redutora do volume pulmonar pode ser uma opção para portadores de enfisema com grave limitação ventilatória. OBJETIVO: Avaliar funcional e morfologicamente pulmões enfisematosos antes e depois da cirurgia de redução de volume pulmonar, através de modelo experimental em ratos. MÉTODO: Dois grupos experimentais de ratos Wistar foram estabelecidos (papaína sem cirurgia e papaína com cirurgia), e três grupos controle (solução fisiológica sem cirurgia, solução fisiológica com cirurgia e papaína sem ventilação mecânica). Após cerca de 40 dias da instilação intratraqueal da solução de papaína ou fisiológica, os animais dos grupos papaína com cirurgia e solução fisiológica com cirurgia foram submetidos a bilobectomia média e retrocava através de toracotomia direita. Após uma semana, foram submetidos a mecânica ventilatória, com medidas de elastância e resistência das vias aéreas. O tecido pulmonar de todos os animais foi analisado quanto ao diâmetro alveolar médio e quantidade de fibras elásticas. RESULTADOS: A análise morfométrica revelou médias superiores de diâmetro alveolar médio nos pulmões dos grupos submetidos à papaína em comparação com a solução fisiológica. A quantificação de fibras elásticas de septos alveolares dos animais tratados com papaína foi menor que daqueles com solução fisiológica. A elastância dos animais submetidos à bilobectomia e papaína foi maior que a dos submetidos à papaína sem cirurgia e estatisticamente igual aos submetidos à solução fisiológica com e sem cirurgia. CONCLUSÃO: A capacidade de recolhimento elástico do sistema respiratório dos animais com enfisema pulmonar submetidos à redução de volume pulmonar através da bilobectomia retornou a valores equivalentes aos dos grupos controle.BACKGROUND: Lung volume reduction surgery may be a viable treatment alternative for emphysema patients suffering from severe respiratory insufficiency. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate functional and morphological aspects of emphysematous rat lungs, prior to and following lung volume reduction surgery. METHOD: Wistar rats were divided into two experimental groups (papain without surgery and papain with surgery) and three control groups (saline without surgery, saline with surgery and papain without mechanical ventilation). After approximately 40 days of endotracheal instillation of papain or saline solution, animals in the papain with surgery and saline with surgery groups were submitted to bilobectomy of the middle lobes by right thoracotomy along the posterior border of the superior vena cava. After 1 week, the same animals were submitted to a mechanical ventilation study, which involved measurement of lung elasticity and airway resistance. For all of the animals studied, lung tissue was analyzed in order to determine alveolar diameter and the elastic fiber quantity. RESULTS: Morphometric analysis revealed higher mean alveolar diameter in the lungs of all animals exposed to papain as compared to those exposed to saline. Elastic fiber counts in the alveolar septa of animals treated with papain were lower than those of animals receiving saline. In the animals submitted to bilobectomy and papain, lung elasticity was greater than in those receiving papain without surgery and was statistically equal to that seen in animals receiving saline (with or without surgery). CONCLUSION: In the respiratory systems of animals with pulmonary emphysema submitted to lung volume reduction by bilobectomy, the capacity for elastic recoil returned to values equivalent to those of the control group animals.

OBJETIVO: Este trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar a ocorrência e as repercussões de enfisema pulmonar quimicamente induzido e as alterações morfológicas presentes em corações de ratos após sua indução, acompanhando sua progressão ao longo do tempo. MÉTODO: Foram avaliados 75 ratos divididos em dois grupos, papaína (N=50) e controle (N=25), submetidos à instilação intratraqueal de papaína e solução fisiológica, respectivamente. Os animais foram sacrificados 30, 60, 90, 120 ou 180 dias após a instilação. Foi realizada gasometria do sangue arterial, análise morfométrica dos pulmões e coração. RESULTADOS: A instilação de papaína produziu destruição do tecido alveolar, mimetizando alterações morfológicas encontradas no enfisema pulmonar, com diâmetro alveolar médio maior no grupo papaína em relação ao controle em todos os momentos avaliados (pOBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the occurrence and repercussions of chemically induced pulmonary emphysema and the morphological alterations present in rats' hearts of post-induction and to follow the progression afterwards. METHOD: Seventy five rats divided into two groups: papain (N=50) and control (N=25), were submitted to intratracheal instillation of papain and saline solution, respectively, and were evaluated. The animals were sacrificed 30, 60, 90, 120 or 180 days post-instillation. Arterial blood gases and cardiac and pulmonary morphometrical analysis were performed. RESULTS: Papain instillation produced alveolar tissue destruction similar to the morphological alterations observed in pulmonary emphysema. The papain group presented mean alveolar diameter higher than controls in all periods evaluated (p

Se presentan 15 enfermos con bullas enfisematosas gigantes, tratados mediante lobectomía reglada en el Hospital Universitario "Comandante Manuel Fajardo", en el período de 1995 a 2000; todos estos pacientes se abordaron mediante incisiones axilares y en el 100 % eran del sexo masculino fumadores de 2 cajetillas de cigarros diarios. La mortalidad quirúrgica fue del 6,6 % a causa de que uno de los pacientes falleció por trombolismo pulmonar. En los 14 enfermos restantes se valoraron las pruebas funcionales respiratorias y se observó un cambio del volumen espiratorio forzado de disminución del volumen residual. En la gasometría arterial, la presión de oxígeno (PO2) aumentó en todos los enfermos hasta valores entre 80 y 85 lo que les permitió incorporarse a su vida laboral activa15 patients with giant emphysematous bullas treated by ruled lobectomy at Comandante Manuel Fajardo Teaching Hospital, from 1995 to 2000, were presented. All these patients were approached by axillary incisions. 100 % were males who smoked 2 packages of cigarettes daily. Surgical mortality was 6.6 % due to the fact that one of the patients died from pulmonary trombolism. In the other 14 patients the functional respiratory tests were made and it was observed a change of the forced expiratory volume in the reduction of the residual volume. In the arterial gasometry, the oxygen pressure (02P) increased in all patients, reaching values between 80 and 85, which allowed them to incorporate to their active working life

Se reporta que el enfisema pulmonar es una enfermedad crónica e invalidante en la que las bullas bilaterales gigantes (ocupan más del 50 % de cada hemitórax), pueden provocar una forma clínica caracterizada por disnea e imposibilidad de una calidad de vida satisfactoria tratada por el método convencional (2 toracotomías, sincrónicas o no) hasta 1973, que reportan el uso de la estemotomía media para la resección bilateral y simultánea del enfisema bulloso bilateral realizada por primera vez en Cuba en 1987, en el Hospital Clinicoquirúrgico Docente "Miguel Enríquez" hasta la fecha por el Grupo Multidisciplinario de Cirugía Torácica de esa institución. Se evaluaron, como parte de una investigación prospectiva, la edad, el sexo, los antecedentes patológicos personales, los exámenes complementarios preoperatorios, el tiempo de retirada de los tubos pleurales, las complicaciones, la mortalidad, la evolución posoperatoria a los 6 y 12 meses y se comparó la utilidad de esta técnica con la convencional. Los datos obtenidos se procesaron mediante un programa computadorizado, con el objetivo de expresarlos en forma de tablas y figuras. La quinta década de la vida y el sexo masculino fueron los más afectados. Los exámenes complementarios preoperatorios más utilizados fueron la radiografía y fluoroscopia de tórax, la gasometría y las pruebas funcionales ventilatorias. La disnea fue el síntoma más frecuente, el tiempo promedio de retirada de los tubos pleurales fue de ocho días, la fuga aérea fue la complicación encontrada con mayor frecuencia, no hubo mortalidad operatoria, la evolución posoperatoria fue excelente y la comparación entre ambas técnicas quirúrgicas demostró la superioridad científica, económica y social de la resección simultánea del enfisema bulloso bilateral por esternotomía media. De los resultados anteriores se concluye que el tratamiento quirúrgico simultáneo del enfisema bulloso bilateral por esternotomía media constituye el procedimiento de elección para esta enfermedad, en virtud de los beneficios que reporta. Este procedimiento se considera actualmente una modalidad de la cirugía de reducción del volumen pulmonar, técnica de punta en la cirugía torácica modernaIt is reported that pulmonary emphysema is a chronic and disabling disease in which the bilateral giant bullae (that occupy more than 50% of each hemithorax) may produce a clinical form characterized by dyspnoea and impossibility of a satisfactory quality of life treated by the conventional method (2 thoracotomies, synchronic or not) until 1973. The mean sternotomy for bilateral and simultaneous resection of the bilateral emphysema was performed for the first time in Cuba in 1987 by the Multidisciplinary Group of Thoracic Surgery at the "Miguel Enriquez"< Clinical and Surgical Teaching Hospital. Age, sex, personal pathological history, preoperative complementary tests, the time of removal of the pleural tubes, complications, mortality, and postoperative evolution at 6 and 12 months were evaluated as part of a prospective research and the usefulness of this technique was compared with the conventional one. The data obtained were processed by a computerized pogram in order to express them in tables and figures. The fifth decade of life and the male sex were the most affected. The most used preoperative complementary tests were chest X-rays and fluoroscopy, gasometry and the functional ventilatory tests. Dyspnoea was the most frequent syndrome. The average time of removal of the pleural tubes was of 8 days. The airway leak was the commonest complication. There was no operative mortality. Postoperative evolution was excellent and the comparison between both surgical techniques showed the scientific, economic and social superiority of the simultaneous resection of the bilateral bullous emphysema by mean sternotomy. It is concluded that the simultaneous surgical treatment of bilateral bullous emphysema by mean sternotomy is the elective procedure for this disease due to its benefits. This procedure is considered at present as a modality of surgery for reducing the pulmonary volume, a state-of-the art technique in modern thoracic surgery

Se revisan los conceptos actuales en el tratamiento de la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica, incluidos la bronquitis crónica y el enfisema pulmonar. Se hace hincapié en el abandono del hábito de firmar como paso más importante en el tratamiento. Se dan recomendaciones para el uso de la terapia preventiva, así como la mejor manera de establecer el tratamiento broncodilatador, por pasos, a base de bromuro de ipratropiun, en dosis regulares y beta 2 agonistas, a demanda, así como el uso de esteroides en estadios más avanzados. Se comenta sobre los pobres beneficios que ofrecen las xantinas y, por último, la mejoría de los síntomas con la oxigenoterapia y el importante papel de los programas educativos y de rehabilitación.The current concepts in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema are revised. Emphasis is made on the fact of giving up smoking as the most important step concerning treatment. Recommendations are included for the use of preventive therapy, as well as the best way for instituting bronchodilator therapy by steps with the use of ipratropium bromide in regular dose and beta 2 agonists according to the demand, as well as the use of steroids in advanced stages. Also a commentary is made on the poor benefits offered by xantines and finally the improvement of symptoms with the use of oxigen as a therapeutic modality and the important role of education and rehabilitation programs are pointed out.

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Pulmonology / Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Pulmonology / Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A hiperinsuflação do pulmão nativo é comum no pós-operatório de transplantes pulmonares unilaterais por enfisema. Quando progressiva, pode comprimir o pulmão transplantado, gerando balanço mediastinal, com prejuízo da ventilação. Nestas situações, o tratamento consiste na redução volumétrica do pulmão nativo. Relatamos dois casos de hiperinsuflação, uma aguda e outra tardia de pulmão nativo, após transplante pulmonar. Ambos evoluíram com disfunção progressiva e sem resposta ao tratamento clínico. No caso agudo, optamos por cirurgia de redução de volume pulmonar com uso de grampeadores e múltiplas ressecções em cunha, removendo 20% do parênquima. No caso crônico, optamos por realização de lobectomia inferior, devido ao resultado da cintilografia.

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Pulmonology / Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Archivos de Bronconeumología (English Edition) is the property of Sociedad Espanola de Neumologia y Cirugia Toracica (SEPAR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Some technical aspects should be taken into consideration in order to guarantee the reliability of the assessment of pulmonary emphysema with lung computed tomography densitometry. Changes in lung density associated with variations in lungs inspiratory and expiratory levels, computed tomography slice thickness, reconstruction algorithm and type of computed tomography apparatus make tomographic comparisons more difficult in follow-up studies of pulmonary emphysema. Nevertheless, quantitative computed tomography has replaced the visual assessment competing with pulmonary function tests as a sensitive method to measure pulmonary emphysema. The present review discusses technical variables of lung computed tomography and their influence on measurements of pulmonary emphysema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary emphysema is a chronic obstructive disease, resulting from important alterations in the whole distal structure of terminal bronchioles, either by enlargement of air spaces or by destruction of the alveolar wall, leading to loss of respiratory surface, decreased elastic recoil and lung hyperinflation. For many years, the hypothesis of protease-antiprotease unbalance prevailed as the central theme in the pathogenesis of pulmonary emphysema. According to this hypothesis, the release of active proteolytic enzymes, produced mainly by neutrophils and macrophages, degrades the extracellular matrix, affecting the integrity of its components, especially collagen and elastic fibers. However, new concepts involving cellular and molecular events were proposed, including oxidative stress, cell apoptosis, cellular senescence and failed lung tissue repair. The aim of this review paper was to evaluate the cellular and molecular mechanisms seen in the pathogenesis of pulmonary emphysema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Pulmonology / Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Pulmonology / Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Pulmonology / Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Pulmonology / Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)