Acute and Critical Care

Review Article

Pulmonary
Lung ultrasound for evaluation of dyspnea: a pictorial review: Aparna Murali, Anjali Prakash, Rashmi Dixit, Monica Juneja, Naresh Kumar; Acute Crit Care. 2022;37(4):502-515. Published online November 21, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2022.00780

Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Lung ultrasound is based on the analysis of ultrasound artifacts generated by the pleura and air within the lungs. In recent years, lung ultrasound has emerged as an important alternative for quick evaluation of the patient at the bedside. Several techniques and protocols for performing lung ultrasound have been described in the literature, with the most popular one being the Bedside Lung Ultrasound in Emergency (BLUE) protocol which can be utilized to diagnose the cause of acute dyspnea at the bedside. We attempt to provide a simplified approach to understanding the physics behind the artifacts used in lung ultrasound, the imaging techniques, and the application of the BLUE protocol to diagnose the commonly presenting causes of acute dyspnea.

Case Report

A Fatal Case of Vocal Cord Dysfunction: A Case Report: Eun Ha Cho, Gi Won Cho, Soo Hoon Kwon, Sang Hyuk Im, Hye Ok Kim, Sook Hee Song, Woo Chan Choung, Suhyun Kim; Korean J Crit Care Med. 2012;27(3):191-196.; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2012.27.3.191

Abstract PDF: Vocal cord dysfunction is characterized by the paradoxical adduction of the vocal cord during inspiration, causing relapsing wheezing or stridor, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. If the patient exhibiting symptoms of asthma is not responsive to treatment, there is a need to test whether vocal cord dysfunction is complicated by asthma. Herein, we report a case of vocal cord dysfunction with acute respiratory failure in old age with underlying disease. The patient presented with resting dyspnea, an audible wheeze, and was first diagnosed with acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma. However, her symptoms were not controlled with medical treatment and laryngoscopy showed paradoxical adduction of the vocal cords. Sudden cardiopulmonary arrest occurred after meal on the day of laryngoscopic examination. Although successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the patient developed ventilator-associated pneumonia, and multiple organ failure, eventually leading to death. Because the case was fatal, a report is being issued.

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