Efficacy of non-invasive intelligent volume assured pressure support (iVAPS) and pressure support ventilation (PSV) in clinical practice

Original article
Horvath CM, Brill AK, Baty F, Brutsche MH
Swiss Med Wkly. 2021;151:w20506

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is a well-established treatment option for hypercapnic respiratory failure; however, the best mode of ventilation remains unknown. In a real-world setting of a mixed population with hypercapnic respiratory failure, iVAPS and PSV seem to be similarly effective in improving gas exchange and demonstrate excellent adherence to treatment. A longer survival was noted in NIV-adherent patients.

Diagnostic tools and CFTR functional assays in cystic fibrosis: utility and availability in Switzerland

Review article: Biomedical intelligence
Fernandez Elviro C, Blanchon S, Hoehnel S, Schumacher U, Sauty A, Brandenberg N, Regamey N
Swiss Med Wkly. 2021;151:w20496

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease caused by a bi-allelic mutation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. When the diagnosis cannot be confirmed by a positive sweat test or/and the identification of two CF-causing variants, international guidelines recommend the use of CFTR functional assays. This narrative review describes the most popular CFTR functional assays, as well as their indications, limitations and availability in Switzerland.

Beware the inhaled steroids or corticophobia?

Review article: Biomedical intelligence
Gidaris DK, Stabouli S, Bush A
Swiss Med Wkly. 2021;151:w20450

Inhaled corticosteroids have been the cornerstone of atopic, allergic asthma management for more than half a century. They have side effects (as does every medication), but they have transformed the control of asthma and saved many lives since their introduction. The current review revisits local and systemic side effects of inhaled corticosteroids and explores the prevalence and nature of parental fears (“corticophobia”) in different parts of the world. The empathetic physician treating asthma should bear in mind the impact of parental concerns on the management of this potentially life-threatening disease and try to dispel myths at every opportunity by emphasising the well-established benefits and excellent safety profile of inhaled corticosteroids.

Ventilatory weaning and early rehabilitation in COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome: the experience at Locarno hospital, canton of Ticino, Switzerland

Viewpoint
Forni R, Besana T, Amitrano A, Voinea C, Ogna A
Swiss Med Wkly. 2020;150:w20397

The experience presented here, although limited, allows us to draw some important conclusions which may become useful in the current context of increasing numbers of COVID-19 patients needing hospitalisation.

Serum lactate at 24 hours is associated with outcome in children requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for pulmonary causes – a retrospective, observational study

Original article
Amodeo A, Erdil T, Vanetta C, Steigmiller K, Schmiady M, Schweiger M, Pretre R, Dave H
Swiss Med Wkly. 2020;150:w20358

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has become an essential life-saving tool. Being resource-intensive, judicious use and optimising the outcomes of this precious resource is important. This retrospective, explanatory, observational study aimed to quantify associations between factors and outcome after pulmonary ECMO in children.

Choir singing improves respiratory muscle strength and quality of life in patients with structural heart disease – HeartChoir: a randomised clinical trial

Original article
Ganzoni C, Arslani K, Pfister O, Freese M, Strobel W, Mueller C, Tobler D
Swiss Med Wkly. 2020;150:w20346

Choir singing in combination with respiratory muscle training improved respiratory muscle strength and quality of life in patients with structural heart disease and may therefore be valuable supplements in cardiac rehabilitation.

Predictors of long-term employment among patients with cystic fibrosis undergoing lung transplantation

Original article
Radtke T, Königs A, Chen X, Braun J, Dressel H, Benden C
Swiss Med Wkly. 2020;150:w20286

Pre-transplant employment is the dominant factor influencing lung transplantation employment in people with cystic fibrosis. People with cystic fibrosis undergoing lung transplantation should be encouraged to work for as long as their health status permits. Professional reintegration after successful lung transplantation should be supported by a multi-disciplinary lung transplant team.

The many faces of interstitial pneumonia: a case of presumed SARS-CoV-2 infection

Original article
Rigamonti E, Salera D, Gheorghiu AC, Fratila C, Gianella P
Swiss Med Wkly. 2020;150:w20312

The importance of differential diagnostics in clinical practice should be a given, especially during times of pandemic. The novel coronavirus infection introduced new guidelines for and approaches to the investigation of immunocompromised patients, so it is especially important not to forget the basis of differential diagnosis, to and adopt a thorough approach when assessing these complex patients. 

Multidisciplinary care in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a 4-year longitudinal observational study

Original article
Sukockienė E, Iancu Ferfoglia R, Truffert A, Héritier Barras AC, Genton L, Viatte V, Leuchter I, Escher M, Horie N, Poncet A, Pasquina P, Adler D, Janssens JP
Swiss Med Wkly. 2020;150:w20258

Benign COVID-19 in an immunocompromised cancer patient -  the case of a married couple

Original article
Spezzani V, Piunno A, Iselin HU
Swiss Med Wkly. 2020;150:w20246

The findings presented here suggest that the course of COVID-19 is not necessarily ominous in the presence of a compromised immune response and tend to reinforce the emerging therapeutic concepts of a controlled mitigation of the immune cascade following SARS CoV-2 infection.