American College of Chest Physicians

During a presentation at CHEST 2014, Marcos Restrepo, MD, FCCP, reviewed the data showing a link between inhaled corticosteroids and the risk of pneumonia. He also discussed the types of inhaled corticosteroids and the dose that is associated most with the development of pneumonia, as well as what impact they may have on clinical outcomes.

Over the past few decades, knowledge of COPD has grown exponentially, including new approaches to treating the condition. Doctors now have more options beyond surgery and anticipate having even more in the future.

For patients diagnosed with occupational asthma, sometimes taking a step as simple as leaving work can improve their condition. For others, finding relief may be a much more involved process that requires more comprehensive treatment.

Study results presented at CHEST 2014 show that patients with stage I to stage III non-small cell lung cancer have different metabolite profiles in their blood than those of patients who are at risk but do not have lung cancer.

The largest study performed to date of mortality trends in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) shows that the rate of mortality dropped significantly over a 16-year period.

One of the most important tasks for physicians treating a patient who has experienced a first unprovoked pulmonary embolism is determining how long the patient must remain on oral anticoagulants.

Guidelines to be released later this year by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) suggest that bronchial thermoplasty may be an effective treatment for moderate to severe asthma patients, for whom inhaled corticosteroids have provided unsatisfactory results.

Plenary session at CHEST 2013 focused on the impact of early warning scores, medical response teams, availability of critical care attending intensivists, and other quality measures in intensive care.

Providers should perform mediastinal biopsy in order to properly stage lung cancer, after diagnosis, and before surgery.

Case study presented at CHEST 2013 details the experience of a patient with hepatitis C who, after undergoing liver transplant, died after developing a serious lung infection and other complications.

A "service learning" collaboration that matches respiratory therapy students with elementary schools improves kids' and caregivers' awareness of asthma triggers and reduces unscheduled inhaler use.

Doctors treating patients for COPD exacerbations may have recourse to a variety of treatments, including some off-label applications of existing drugs, and smoking cessation may result in a reduction of repeat occurrences.

Presentation at CHEST 2013 reviewed key considerations surrounding the treatment of pulmonary embolism and other venous thromboembolic events with the newer class of oral anticoagulant agents.

Providers who don't use social media are missing valuable opportunities to learn from and educate their peers, recruit patients, and repudiate misinformation.

Presenters at CHEST 2013 reported that preliminary study results suggest that an accurate exhaled breath biomarker could be developed for use as a clinical test to detect lung cancer.

Study results presented at CHEST 2013 show that patients given beta-blockers may actually be at increased risk of having an adverse cardiac event during a noncardiac surgical procedure.

Study results presented at CHEST 2013 show that the use of ultrasound testing rather than x-rays or CT scans in the ICU reduces patient radiation exposure and lowers costs of care.