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CHEST 2009 -- the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians -- took place Oct. 31 to Nov. 5 in San Diego,
attracted about 5,000 attendees from around the world, and featured 500 presentations by expert speakers. "Highlights included literature reviews in multiple clinical areas limited to the last year of publication," said Scientific
Program chair, Lisa K. Moores, of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md. "Our presenters
honed in on practice-changing papers in sleep medicine, chest infections, pulmonary vascular disease, obstructive lung disease,
clinical care, and mechanical ventilation so that primary intensivists, pulmonologists, and sleep docs could pick and choose
which ones were most useful to them." "One of the meeting's major themes was telemedicine and tele-health, both from an electronic intensive care unit (eICU)
and specialty-care perspective, and how we take care of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma patients in
rural areas," Moores said. In one study, researchers from the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in Shreveport, La., studied the pre- and post-effects
on 100 COPD patients of a new telemedicine program that included use of an in-home electronic device that requests information
on participants' health and transmits responses to a registered nurse. They found that the telemedicine program was associated
with fewer significant COPD exacerbations and that unscheduled hospital visits for COPD decreased from 3.59 to 1.95 per year,
a 46 percent relative reduction. In a second related study, researchers from the Kansas-based Via Christi Health System in Wichita studied the effects of
a tele-ICU program in rural facilities and how it reduces carbon footprints and saves money. In 203 patients who were able
to stay in their hometown hospital because of the program, the researchers estimated savings in gasoline, lodging, and meals
of more than $133,000. During the meeting, Gerard A. Silvestri, M.D., of the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, presented a review
of three papers addressing the new staging system in lung cancer. "The new system classifies patients differently based on
the size of their primary tumor or on their nodal status," Moores said. "It has down-staged some patients who may need more
aggressive therapy. It also dictates the way we approach therapy, either with adjuvant chemotherapy and surgery, and how to
avoid surgical approaches in patients who won't benefit." In one study of 29 patients with suspected lung cancer who underwent endobronchial ultrasound, Silvestri and colleagues
found that malignancy was associated with nodes larger than 40 mm compared to those smaller than 20 mm (odds ratio, 3.84)
and that round-shaped nodes were more likely than triangular-shaped nodes to be malignant (odds ratio, 9.09). Other significant studies showed that extended therapy may be useful in preventing venous thromboembolism in patients who
undergo total joint replacement, and that high blood sugar is associated with poorer outcomes in patients who present with
pulmonary embolism. In a study of 135 pulmonary embolism patients, researchers from the Coimbra University Hospital in Portugal, found that
those with blood-sugar levels above 250 mg/dL were significantly more likely than those with lower levels to experience the
primary end-point: a composite of in-hospital mortality and the need for catecholamine infusion, mechanical ventilation, or
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (25 versus 8.9 percent). In another study of 20,843 World Trade Center responders, researchers from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York
City found that less than 1 percent had self-reported asthma episodes or attacks before the 9/11 attacks, which increased
to 8 percent between 2005 and 2007. "Asthma and other chronic lung conditions remain a significant burden for rescue and recovery workers responding to the
attacks on the World Trade Center," Kalpalatha Guntupalli, M.D., of the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and president
of the American College of Chest Physicians, said in a statement. "The significant chronic health problems associated with
the World Trade Center attacks only reinforces the need for stronger disaster preparedness plans, as well as long-term medical
follow-up for 9/11 responders and individuals who respond to disaster-related events." On a lighter note, researchers from the Morristown Memorial Hospital in Madison, N.J., studied 12 male golfers who received
nasal positive airway pressure treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. They found that treatment was associated with improved
daytime sleepiness scores and a lowered golf handicap of up to three strokes. "Providers typically attempt to maximize compliance with nasal positive airway pressure by promoting its medical benefits
or warning patients of the risks involved in not being treated, but this approach does not always work," lead author, Marc
Benton, M.D., said in a statement. "In the case of this study, the possibility of improving one's ability to play golf appears
to have been a significant motivation to improve treatment compliance." CHEST: Nutrition, Fitness Can Affect Lung Function THURSDAY, Nov. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Vitamin B12 supplementation may benefit some patients with chronic cough, and increased
physical fitness may help preserve lung function in elderly adults, according to research presented at the 75th annual international
scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians, held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 5 in San Diego. Abstract - Bucca CHEST: Abnormal Sleep Can Affect Intensive Care Nurses THURSDAY, Nov. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses are more likely than floor nurses to show evidence
of abnormal sleep, which may be associated with an increased number of errors during their shifts. In addition, a high-intensity
staffing model may decrease pneumonia rates in the ICU, according to research presented at the 75th annual international scientific
assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians, held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 5 in San Diego. Abstract CHEST: Clinician Smoking-Cessation Awareness May Be Low THURSDAY, Nov. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Hospital workers are unlikely to have formal training in smoking-cessation methods.
In addition, patients may be more likely to quit if they participate in pulmonary rehabilitation programs or know their true
lung age, according to research presented at the 75th annual international scientific assembly of the American College of
Chest Physicians, held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 5 in San Diego. Abstract - Chen CHEST: More ICU Patients Discharged Directly to Home WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4 (HealthDay News) -- An increasing number of intensive care unit patients are being discharged directly
to home. In addition, mortality is higher among patients with acute respiratory failure who are admitted to teaching hospitals,
according to research presented at the 75th annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians,
held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 5 in San Diego. Abstract - Rashid CHEST: Lower Doses Benefit Pediatric Asthma Patients WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4 (HealthDay News) -- In children who are hospitalized with asthma, a reduced-dose steroid regimen has
no effect on hospital stays, and low-dose albuterol treatment is associated with a lower risk of metabolic acidosis than high-dose
treatment, according to research presented at the 75th annual international scientific assembly of the American College of
Chest Physicians, held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 5 in San Diego. Abstract - Edwards CHEST: Statins May Be Beneficial in Select Patients WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with heart failure, statin use can be helpful or harmful; however, in
patients hospitalized with heart attack or stroke, statin use may significantly reduce the risk of venous thromboembolism,
according to research presented at the 75th annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians,
held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 5 in San Diego. Abstract - Cahalin CHEST: Disparities Seen in Restless Legs Syndrome TUESDAY, Nov. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Caucasian women are disproportionately affected by restless legs syndrome, according
to research presented this week at the 75th annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians,
held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 5 in San Diego. CHEST: Bruxism Can Affect One-Quarter of OSA Patients TUESDAY, Nov. 3 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), bruxism is highly prevalent, especially
among men and Caucasians, according to research presented this week at the 75th annual international scientific assembly of
the American College of Chest Physicians, held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 5 in San Diego. Copyright © 2009 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved. |   Practice Tools Coding Counselor Simple and accurate ICD-9 code search. Start Here  Formulary Counselor Find health plan drug coverage in your area. Start Here  Patient Education Print customized patient education handouts. Start Here  Surgical Video Center On-demand surgery demos and presentations. Start Here    
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