Objective: To evaluate the effect of the association of the breath stacking (BS) technique associated with routine physiotherapy on pulmonary function, lung volumes, maximum respiratory pressures, vital signs, peripheral oxygenation, thoracoabdominal mobility, and pain in the surgical incision in patients submitted to upper abdominal surgery during the postoperative period, as well as to analyze BS safety. Methods: This was a randomized clinical trial involving 34 patients divided into a control group (CG; n = 16), who underwent conventional physiotherapy only, and the BS group (BSG; n = 18), who underwent conventional physiotherapy and BS. Both groups performed two daily sessions from postoperative day 2 until hospital discharge. The primary outcomes were FVC and Vt. The safety of BS was assessed by the incidence of gastrointestinal, hemodynamic, and respiratory repercussions. Results: Although FVC significantly increased at hospital discharge in both groups, the effect was greater on the BSG. Significant increases in FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, PEF, and FEF25-75% occurred only in the BSG. There were also significant increases in Ve and Vt in the BSG, but not when compared with the CG values at discharge. MIP and MEP significantly increased in both groups, with a greater effect on the BSG. There was a significant decrease in RR, as well as a significant increase in SpO2 only in the BSG. SpO2 acutely increased after BS; however, no changes were observed in the degree of dyspnea, vital signs, or signs of respiratory distress, and no gastrointestinal and hemodynamic repercussions were observed. Conclusions: BS has proven to be safe and effective for recovering pulmonary function; improving lung volumes, maximum respiratory pressures, and peripheral oxygenation; and reducing respiratory work during the postoperative period after upper abdominal surgery.

Keywords: Abdomen/surgery; Pulmonary ventilation; Physical therapy modalities. (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT 04418700 [http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/])

Objective: To assess the association between smoking and abdominal fat among male blood donors. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 1,235 adult male blood donors (age, 20-59 years) in the city of Cuiabá, Brazil. Socioeconomic, demographic, and anthropometric data, as well as information on the lifestyle of the participants, were collected. In this study, waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio were used as markers of abdominal fat. The association between these two markers and smoking was analyzed by multiple linear regression in separate models, adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Of the 1,235 respondents, 273 (22.1%) reported being smokers, and, of those, 99 (36.3%) reported smoking more than 15 cigarettes per day. The average body mass index was lower among smokers than among nonsmokers (p < 0.001). In the multiple linear regression analyses, smoking was associated with waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio for smokers of 6-10 cigarettes/day and of ≥ 11 cigarettes/day. Conclusions: In our sample, smoking was positively associated with indicators of abdominal fat, regardless of potential confounding factors, including the consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Keywords: Smoking; Obesity; Abdominal fat.

A series of pulmonary complications can occur after abdominal surgery. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce appropriate treatment early in order to minimize postoperative complications. The objective of the present study was to evaluate patients submitted to abdominal surgery in terms of the effect of physical therapy in the immediate postoperative period. This was a randomized clinical trial, in which one group of patients was submitted to physical therapy in the postoperative recovery room and, subsequently, in the infirmary, whereas another group was submitted to physical therapy in the infirmary exclusively. We conclude that physical therapy performed in the immediate postoperative period minimizes losses in lung function and respiratory muscle strength, as well as shortening recovery room stays.

Keywords: Physical therapy (specialty); Postoperative period; Surgery/abdomen.

Objective: To determine the effect that re-education of the thoracic and abdominal muscles has on the respiratory muscle strength of patients with cystic fibrosis evaluated over time at the Cystic Fibrosis Outpatient Clinic of the Universidade Católica de Brasília (Catholic University of Brasília). Methods: The sample consisted of 29 cystic fibrosis patients, characterized based on anthropometric, genetic and bacterial colonization data. The patients were submitted to physical therapy sessions, involving re-education of the respiratory muscles, twice a week for four months. Spirometry, pressure manometry and anthropometry were performed before and after each session. Results: Comparing baselines values to those obtained after physical therapy, increases in maximum inspiratory pressure and maximum expiratory pressure were observed in all patients, those without any obstructive respiratory disease and those with mild obstructive respiratory disease (p < 0.05). A positive correlation between age and maximum expiratory pressure was observed for most of the patients. Maximum inspiratory pressure correlated positively with age only in the group with mild obstructive respiratory disease (p = 0.012; r = 0.817). In female patients and in the group of patients without obstructive respiratory disease, a negative correlation was observed between maximum expiratory pressure and colonization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (p = 0.036; r = -0.585). Conclusion: Use of the thoracic and abdominal muscle re-education technique increased respiratory muscle strength in the cystic fibrosis patients studied, a finding that underscores the importance of including physical therapy in the treatment of these patients.

Keywords: Cystic fibrosis/rehabilitation; Physical therapy technique; Respiratory muscles; Forced expiratory volume; Inspiratory capacity; Vital capacity

A pneumonia por Pneumocystis carinii (PPC), que é a infecção oportunista que mais comumente põe em risco a vida de pacientes com síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida (SIDA), tem sido há bastante tempo associada a outros estados de imunodeficiência. Os relatos iniciais sugeriram que a apresentação clínica da PPC em SIDA difere de sua apresentação em outras situações, embora ambas tenham sofrido modificações nos últimos anos. O objetivo do presente estudo é comparar os achados clínicos e laboratoriais da PPC em SIDA com os de pacientes portadores de PPC sem SIDA. Foram revisados os prontuários médicos de todos os pacientes em nossa instituição que tiveram o diagnóstico confirmado de PPC e SIDA durante o ano de 1994 (17 pacientes) e sem SIDA no período de 1992-1994 (dez pacientes). Quando da apresentação, os pacientes sem SIDA tinham uma duração de sintomas significativamente menor (8,4 ± 7,7 vs 19,5 ± 10,2 dias, p < 0,05), menor PaO2 média a ar ambiente (47 ± 8,2 vs 63 ± 10mmHg, p < 0,05), e mais freqüente infiltrado unilateral no radiograma do tórax (60 vs 6%, p < 0,05). O índice de mortalidade da PPC foi marcadamente maior nos pacientes sem SIDA (40 vs 6%, p < 0,05), e este fato estava associado com retarde no início do tratamento específico nestes pacientes. Devido a seu curso mais agudo, apresentação radiológica atípica e alto índice de mortalidade, concluímos que o diagnóstico de PPC deve ser afastado em pacientes que recebem terapia imunossupressora e que profilaxia anti-PPC deve ser fortemente considerada em pacientes que serão imunossuprimidos.

Keywords: PPC-AIDS. PPC não-AIDS.

Objetivo: Realizar a tradução para a língua portuguesa e a adaptação cultural para uso no Brasil do Quality of Communication Questionnaire (QOC) para pacientes com DPOC em cuidados paliativos. Métodos: Após a aprovação do autor do questionário e do comitê de ética da instituição, a versão original do QOC com 13 itens foi traduzida, de forma independente, por dois tradutores brasileiros com fluência na língua inglesa. Uma síntese das duas traduções foi realizada por uma médica bilíngue e os dois tradutores, que chegaram a um consenso, gerando uma versão na língua portuguesa. Essa versão foi retraduzida por dois tradutores nativos de países de língua inglesa com fluência na língua portuguesa. Para resolver quaisquer discrepâncias, um comitê de especialistas comparou a versão original com todas as versões produzidas e, assim, obteve-se a versão pré-final do QOC. O pré-teste foi aplicado em 32 pacientes internados em UTIs de três hospitais públicos da grande Florianópolis (SC) para avaliar a clareza e a aceitabilidade cultural da versão pré-final do QOC. Resultados: A média de idade dos pacientes foi de 48,5 ± 18,8 anos. A maioria dos itens foi bem compreendida e aceita, recebendo pontuações ≥ 8. Um item, sobre morte, suscitou dificuldades na compreensão dos participantes do pré-teste. Ao submeter a retradução ao autor do QOC, ele solicitou alterações em dois itens, que foram acatadas. Após essas alterações, a versão final foi aprovada. Conclusões: A tradução e a adaptação cultural do QOC para uso no Brasil foi concluída com sucesso.

Keywords: Doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica; Inquéritos e questionários; Comunicação; Unidades de terapia intensiva.

Objective: To describe the characteristics of patients with influenza A (H1N1)-associated pneumonia treated at two hospitals in the region of Liguria, Italy, as well as to describe their treatment and outcomes. Methods: This was a prospective observational study including all patients older than 16 years of age with a confirmed diagnosis of influenza A (H1N1) who were admitted to Villa Scassi Hospital, in the city of Genoa, Italy, or to the Sestri Levante General Hospital, in the city of Sestri Levante, Italy, between September of 2009 and January of 2010. The primary outcome measure was mortality within 60 days after diagnosis. Secondary outcome measures were the need for mechanical ventilation and the length of hospital stay. Results: Of the 40 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of influenza A (H1N1), 27 presented pneumonia during the study period. The mean age of the 27 patients was 42.8 ± 14.8 years, and the mean length of hospital stay was 11.6 ± 8.2 days. Of the 27 patients, 20 had respiratory failure, 4 underwent invasive mechanical ventilation, and 5 underwent noninvasive ventilation. One patient had comorbidities, developed multiple organ failure, and died. Conclusions: During the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic, the associated mortality rate was lower in Italy than in other countries, and cases reported in the country typically had a milder course than did those reported elsewhere. Nevertheless, 9 of our cases (33%) rapidly evolved to respiratory failure, requiring mechanical ventilation.

Keywords: Pneumonia; Influenza A virus, H1N1 subtype; Respiratory insufficiency.

Some lung diseases are true diagnostic challenges due to their various clinical presentations. Actinomycosis is one such disease, potentially affecting various organs and systems. We report the case of a patient with pulmonary actinomycosis as a pseudotumor, which is usually only diagnosed by thoracotomy or thoracoscopy.

Keywords: Actinomycosis; Thoracic neoplasms; Bacterial infections and mycoses.