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S H Salzman

Publications and source records attributed to S H Salzman.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Bronchoscopic techniques for the diagnosis of pulmonary complications of HIV infection.

Bronchoscopy has played the central role in defining the spectrum of pulmonary disorders that occur in patients with HIV infection. Transbronchial biopsy (TBB) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) both have high yields in the diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) and other infections. Paradoxically, despite our knowledge and experience using bronchoscopy, controversy still exists regarding whether to attempt to make a bronchoscopic diagnosis in most patients with suspected PCP who have negative sputum studies or whether to administer initial empiric therapy and reserve invasive diagnostic techniques for patients who have a response. I prefer establishing a diagnosis as soon as possible because bronchoscopy is safe and because the patient may not have PCP and may become too ill to have bronchoscopy after a few days of ineffective therapy. A second controversy relates to the necessity of including routine TBB in addition to BAL during bronchoscopy. Although biopsies increase the risk of pneumothorax and hemorrhage, they add to the diagnostic yield in PCP and other infections. They are also necessary to provide tissue specimens for diagnosing noninfectious pulmonary disorders such as Kaposi's sarcoma and lymphocytic and nonspecific pneumonitis.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1995

Outcome of intensive care in patients with HIV infection.

OBJECTIVES: To examine ICU admission rates and diagnoses of patients with HIV infection and to determine the outcomes of different critical illnesses. DESIGN: Consecutive enrollment of patients admitted to the ICU with confirmed HIV infection or an AIDS-defining diagnosis. SETTING: Medical ICU of an urban teaching hospital. PATIENTS: 65 adult patients with documented HIV infection or AIDS-defining disorder. INTERVENTIONS: Standard care. RESULTS: In 1 year, there were 1,550 hospital admissions for patients with HIV infection, and 65 (4.2%) were admitted to the ICU. The mortality rate of patients admitted to the ICU was 51%; 35 (54%) were admitted with respiratory failure, 22 of whom had Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). Sixteen patients with PCP required mechanical ventilation, and 13 (81%) died despite treatment with adjunctive corticosteroids. Other causes of respiratory failure included bacterial pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis, adult respiratory distress syndrome, and pulmonary Kaposi's sarcoma. Overall, 22 of 35 (63%) patients with respiratory failure died in the hospital. Thirty patients (46%) were admitted because of sepsis, neurologic disease, congestive heart failure, hypotension, or drug overdose. These patients had a mortality rate of 37%. Prior antiretroviral and anti-Pneumocystis prophylaxis did not influence outcome, but a body weight of 10% or more below ideal at the time of admission predicted poor survival. CONCLUSION: There is a diverse range of indications for critical care in patients with HIV infection. Although respiratory failure due to PCP was the most common reason for admission to the ICU, it accounted for only 34% of the cases. The prognosis of PCP in patients who require mechanical ventilation despite adjunctive corticosteroid treatment is poor.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The role of bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in patients at risk for HIV infection.

The present study was undertaken to clarify the role of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and transbronchial biopsy (TBB) in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in patients at risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We retrospectively identified 31 patients at risk for HIV who proved to have Mycobacterium tuberculosis on culture of at least one pulmonary specimen. All had pulmonary symptoms but initial sputum smears negative for acid-fast bacilli (AFB). All underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB), including BAL and TBB; postbronchoscopy sputum was also collected in 19 patients. A specimen was considered to yield an immediate diagnosis when positive for AFB either on smear or histologic study; granulomas alone were considered positive when no other causes were identified. Overall, an immediate diagnosis was made by bronchoscopic specimens in 15 (48 percent) of 31 cases. TBB was the sole positive specimen in seven patients (23 percent). For comparison, similar specimens from 40 patients in whom M avium complex (MAC) grew on culture were also evaluated. An immediate identification of AFB was made in only four patients (10 percent). We conclude that the finding of AFB on staining of any pulmonary specimen is highly suggestive of tuberculosis, rather than MAC, and warrants institution of antituberculosis therapy. Of all bronchoscopic specimens, TBB provides the highest yield for an immediate diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

Histoplasmosis in patients at risk for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in a nonendemic setting.

We reviewed 18 cases of histoplasmosis in patients at risk for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome seen at two New York City hospitals in the past 3 1/2 years. Seventeen patients were Hispanic, including 13 born in Puerto Rico and three in South America. Clinical presentation was subacute, with high fever, weight loss, and mild respiratory symptoms with well-maintained gas exchange. Five patients had normal chest roentgenograms. The most common chest roentgenographic abnormality was diffuse small nodules. A rapid diagnosis was established histologically in 72 percent of patients, most commonly by transbronchial lung biopsy; cultures were positive in 94 percent of patients while serology was positive in five of six patients. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was a concurrent, often unrecognized, pathogen in six cases. Most patients responded to amphotericin therapy. Histoplasmosis may represent an early sign of altered host immunity in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1981

The case of the two-timing pacemaker.

A 71-year-old man with a permanent transvenous pacemaker had recent history of lightheadedness and was brought to the hospital emergency room complaining of shortness of breath. His blood pressure was 80/50, pulse rate 148. Administration of a pressor drug restored blood pressure and coincidentally the heart rate returned to 70. His condition was caused by formation of a dendritic spur in the substrate of the programming circuit in his implanted pacemaker, with consequent intermittent doubling of the impulse frequency. Another pacemaker was substituted surgically, and he recovered uneventfully.

Aged↗