Biomedical subjects

K M Lahren

Publications and source records attributed to K M Lahren.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1997

Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation.

Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) has been used in treatment of a variety of clinical conditions, including acute respiratory failure (ARF) due to status asthmaticus. We present the case of a patient admitted with acute exacerbation of asthma who had ARF and required mechanical ventilation. After extubation, he had respiratory distress and was successfully treated with NPPV. NPPV was continued for approximately 24 hours, with clinical improvement and avoidance of reintubation. Despite the benefits of NPPV (ie, improved patient comfort, reduced need for sedation, and avoidance of complications associated with mechanical ventilation), it has not been widely used. Understanding the clinical indications for and limitations of NPPV allows successful use of this noninvasive method of mechanical ventilation.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Effect of influenza vaccine on bronchoprovocation testing in normal subjects.

A study of 55 nonasthmatic patients was undertaken to determine if recent influenza vaccination is a justifiable exclusionary criteria for bronchoprovocation testing. Healthy subjects without history of asthma and with negative methacholine challenge tests were given an intramuscular injection of killed influenza vaccine. Methacholine challenge testing was repeated 24 h later. While a statistically significant decline in FEV1 at 188 methacholine dose units was demonstrated (p < 0.018), this was not clinically significant; none of the 55 subjects converted a negative test to positive. We conclude that recent influenza vaccination is not a sufficient exclusionary criterion for methacholine challenge testing. Positive results in a patient recently vaccinated would still indicate asthma in the correct clinical setting.

Adult↗