Background: Few studies have assessed the utility of chest ultrasonography in the diagnosis of pneumothorax in India. Methods: Chest ultrasonography was undertaken in 126 haemodynamically stable patients, followed by a chest radiograph within 30 minutes. If pneumothorax was not seen on the chest radiograph, a non-contrast computed tomography of the thorax was performed within 3 hours. The time taken to make or exclude a diagnosis of pneumothorax, by ultrasonography, was assessed. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy of chest ultrasonography was estimated. Results: For the diagnosis of pneumothorax in any clinical situation, the average time taken on ultrasonography was less than 2 minutes. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV and NPV of chest ultrasonography was 89%, 88.5%, 88.9%, 96.7% and 67.6%, respectively. Conclusions: Chest ultrasonography can be used as a primary imaging modality in the diagnosis of pneumothorax in a vast variety of clinical situations.

Background: The thoracic surgery scoring system (Thoracoscore) is a multivariate scoring system with nine parameters used for predicting inpatient mortality after thoracic surgery. In clinical practice, the value of the thoracoscore in evaluating the fitness of individual patients for surgery is not clear. Objective: The study objective was to evaluate the performance of thoracoscore in evaluating fitness for surgery for lung cancer and compare it with cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPEX). Methods: We retrospectively analysed data over a 2-year period from the CPEX database of patients referred for preoperative assessment prior to surgery for lung cancer. Results: Twenty-two patients who had borderline lung function impairment had CPEX to assess fitness for surgery. Fifteen (68%) were deemed fit and went on to have thoracic surgery while 7 (32%) were considered high risk and were turned down. The predicted death rate based on thoracoscore for patients who had surgery was 3.5+2.8 as compared to 3.4+2.0 for patients who did not have surgery (p>0.05). The mean peak VO2 (peak oxygen uptake during CPEX) among those who had surgery was significantly higher than those who did not have surgery (14.2 mL/kg/min versus 10.1 mL/kg/min). There was no correlation of thoracoscore with lung function parameters, duration of hospital stay and peak VO2. Conclusions: Our study showed that CPEX remains a standard and useful tool for functional assessment prior to lung cancer resection. There is no correlation between thoracoscore and either CPEX or pulmonary function parameters. Thoracoscore should not be used to assess fitness for surgery.

Background: Prescribing inhalers without imparting adequate education regarding proper technique of their usage may result in suboptimal clinical improvement and wastage of medication. Training interventions using a standard check-list may help improve faulty techniques and enhance drug efficacy. Methods: Patients using metered dose inhaler (MDI) were included in the study. Inhaler technique was first evaluated at baseline using a standard check-list of recommended steps (National Institute of Health guidelines; see Table) and scores were given for each step correctly performed. Those who could not perform all steps correctly were given training intervention. The patients were assigned to two methods of educational intervention; one group was trained by providing written material giving step-wise instructions while the other group was given an actual physical demonstration using a placebo device. The technique was re-evaluated and scored following each educational session, and continued till the patient achieved a full score, or for a maximum of 3 sessions, whichever occurred earlier. Median score was calculated after each session and was compared between the two groups. Each patient was followed up after two months and the re-evaluated the same way. Results: One hundred and seventeen subjects were enrolled in the study (59 in the written group and 57 in the practical demonstration group). At baseline, only 1 of the 117 subjects could perform all the steps of inhaler usage correctly. This patient was, therefore, not provided the inhaler technique education. The overall median (range) score of the whole group was 3 (range 1-8). This score rose to 6, 7 and 8 after each of the three subsequent educational intervention sessions. At one-month follow-up, the median score dropped to 7 and improved with a repeat educational session as previously done. A significant difference was observed in the median score improvement achieved in the practical demonstration group compared with the written instruction group (3.0 versus 2.0 respectively, p<0.001). Conclusions: Inhalation technique of patients improves after imparting systematic educational intervention. A practical demonstration of all the steps proved more effective than simple verbal/written advice. In view of increasing errors being committed over a period of time, repeated demonstration of the proper technique using a standard check-list significantly improves the errors committed during inhaler use.

We report a case of a 60-year-old female who was known to have intralobar pulmonary sequestration and her only symptom was chronic cough. She had no history of infections and surgical resection led to complete resolution of her chronic cough.

Pulmonary infections due to non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are increasingly being reported. These can mimic drugresitant tubercuolosis. A diagnosis of NTM infections needs a high degree of clinical suspicion and repeated isolation of the organism on culture. NTM infections occur commonly in immunocompromised individuals and in people with lung abnormalities. Currently there are no guidelines on drug combinations and the duration of treatment is not adequately defined. Two cases of pulmonary infection with NTM in immune-competent individuals are described in the present report. Although the bacteriological, radiological and clinical response to treatment was good; early discontinuation of treatment resulted in recurrence and change in drug susceptibility pattern, suggesting the need for prolonged treatment for achieving cure.

A non-smoker adult male presented with haemoptysis of short duration. Chest radiograph (postero-anterior view) suggested an opaque left hemithorax. Further evaluation of lung lesion pointed towards a left lung hypoplasia with absent left pulmonary artery and a right-sided aortic arch (RAA). Both kidneys were enlarged with multiple cysts and thinning of parenchyma. This case describes a unique coexistence RAA and probable autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Since its first description in 1936, siderosis of lung has been considered a benign pneumoconiosis due to absence of significant clinical symptoms or respiratory impairment. Subsequently, authors have questioned the nonfibrogenic property of iron. However, siderosis causing interstitial lung disease with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern has not been described in the past. We report a case of UIP on high resolution computed tomography, proven to be siderosis on transbronchial lung biopsy in a lathe machine worker.

A 21-year-old boy presented with high grade fever, diffuse chest pain and exertional breathlessness of one month duration. Radiologically he had a large lobulated anterior mediastinal mass with necrotic thick enhancing septaes. Histopathology of the mass was suggestive of thymoma and culture from the necrotic aspirate yielded Salmonella typhi. The same pathogen was isolated in subsequent blood and sputum cultures. This current report describes the rare association of salmonella infection with thymoma.