Psychological aspects in neuromuscular patients: case series.

The management of patients with neuromuscular diseases requires a multidisciplinary approach that integrates medical care with targeted psychological support. Respiratory difficulties, often treated with non-invasive ventilation (NIV) are accompanied by mood disorders such as anxiety and depression, which can compromise treatment adherence and quality of life. In our Unit, we performed psychological assessment from the first visit, using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) scale to evaluate the patients, and initiate where necessary, psychological support, also via telemedicine.

Lung Function and Symptoms in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Treated with High-Flow Nasal Therapy for 1 Year.

Introduction: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic progressive disease that subverts the normal structure of the lungs and finally causes respiratory failure. High-flow nasal therapy (HFNT) is currently used in the acute setting for IPF with acute respiratory failure. Also, acute exacerbation of IPF and end-stage disease are common indications.

Indications and techniques of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in neuromuscular diseases.

The neuromuscular patients may experience the need for respiratory support due to the onset of respiratory failure. Some skills are essential to achieve therapeutic success. In addition to technical knowledge, it is essential to have knowledge relating to individual neuromuscular diseases.

The role of dexmedetomidine in ARDS: an approach to non-intensive care sedation.

Introduction: Severe COVID-19 is a life-threatening condition characterized by complications such as interstitial pneumonia, hypoxic respiratory failure, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Non-pharmacological intervention with mechanical ventilation plays a key role in treating COVID-19-related ARDS but is influenced by a high risk of failure in more severe patients. Dexmedetomidine is a new generation highly selective α2-adrenergic receptor (α2-AR) agonist that provides sedative effects with preservation of respiratory function.

Intermittent abdominal pressure ventilation management in neuromuscular diseases: a Delphi panel Consensus.

Background: Intermittent abdominal pressure ventilator (IAPV) use started in the 1930s for ventilatory assistance with muscular dystrophy patients. Later, the device was perfected and expanded for other neuromuscular disorders (NMD). In recent years, the morbidity and mortality tracheotomies and trach tubes related renewed the interest around IAPV.

Negative-Pressure Ventilation in Neuromuscular Diseases in the Acute Setting.

Mechanical ventilation started with negative-pressure ventilation (NPV) during the 1950s to assist patients with respiratory failure, secondary to poliomyelitis. Over the years, technological evolution has allowed for the development of more comfortable devices, leading to an increased interest in NPV. The patients affected by neuromuscular diseases (NMD) with chronic and acute respiratory failure (ARF) may benefit from NPV.

Diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia, a common cause of respiratory failure in patients with neuromuscular disorders.

Patients with neuromuscular diseases, during their illness are more susceptible to respiratory infections due to predisposing factors. Ineffective cough and the presence of atelectasis and hypoventilation, dysphagia and drooling can represent risk factors for the development of respiratory infection and fatal respiratory failure. Infections of respiratory tract with acute respiratory failure are the most common reason for hospitalizations, and pneumonia is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide.

Intermittent Abdominal Pressure Ventilation: An Alternative for Respiratory Support.

Intermittent abdominal pressure ventilation is a positive pressure ventilation technique that works with abdominal compressions. It has been known since 1938; however, for many years, it was out of production. In recent years, a new device has been produced that has captured the attention to this old respiratory support technique.

The Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Deletion/Deletion Genotype Is a Risk Factor for Severe COVID-19: Implication and Utility for Patients Admitted to Emergency Department.

: Insertion/deletion polymorphisms of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) have been previously described in association with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and correlated to outcome. The ACE deletion/deletion(D/D)genotype represents a marker of thrombosis in subjects apparently without predisposing factors and/or traditional thrombophilic alterations and increases the risk of venous thromboembolism in subjects in whom a thrombogenic condition occurs. Thrombosis seems to play a role very early in the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, in particular in those with severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

MPV promote adherence to nocturnal NIV in a Duchenne patient.

We described a case of a patient 20 years old, affected by Duchenne dystrophy with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and severe nocturnal desaturation. He was not compliant to non-invasive ventilation (NIV) for claustrophobia and panic attacks. Mouthpiece ventilation was successfully used in this patient, who later accepted the nighttime NIV.

Obsessive-compulsive-spectrum symptoms in patients with focal dystonia, hemifacial spasm, and healthy subjects.

This study is aimed at investigating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in three groups of patients matched for age and gender; namely, focal dystonia (FD), hemifacial spasm (HFS), and healthy-control subjects (HC). All subjects were investigated with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-I, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Symptom Checklist-90, the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, and the Structured Clinical Interview for Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Self-Report, Lifetime Version (SCI-OBS-SR-LT). The prevalence of OCD was significantly higher in both FD and HFS than in HC participants.

Epilepsy and bipolar disorders.

Although mood disorders represent a frequent psychiatric comorbidity among patients with epilepsy, data regarding bipolar disorders are still limited. However, these two conditions apparently share a number of biochemical and pathophysiological underpinnings, such as the kindling phenomenon, changes in neurotransmitters and modifications in voltage-opened ion channels and second messenger systems. Moreover, epilepsy and bipolar disorders are both episodic conditions with a time course of illness that can become chronic.