Weaning of patients supported by prolonged artificial ventilation is difficult on account of complicated incurable lower air way infections by
P. aeruginosa etc. Four typical cases of lower air way infections responded positively to EM.
(Case 1) A 70 years old male patient had both upper lung lobes resected in the past due to T. B. Since the onset of respiratory failure when he underwent a surgical operation due to gastric cancer, he inevitably needed continual support by artifical ventilation and this was complicated by a lower air way infection by
P. maltophilia. Application of EM brought about a successful weaning and he was able to be discharged.
(Case 2) A 74 years old female patient was inevitably supported by a continuous artificial ventilation due to sever attacks of bronchial asthma which gave rise to a complicated lower air way infection by
P. aeruginosa. Application of EM resulted in anacceptable healing, and she was discharged.
(Case 3) A 56 years old male patient, with previous artificial pneumothorax due to T. B., needed the support of a contunous artificial ventilation upon the occurrence of an acute exacerbation, which gave rise to a complicated lower air way infection by
P. aeruginosa. Application of EM resulted in healing and then he was able to be discharged.
(Case 4) A 50 years old male, who was prescribed predonisolone due to sarcoidosis, gave rise to a complicated lower air way infection of
Aspergillus, M. tuberuculosa, and
P. aeruginosa. Consequently the respiratory failure was relieved by a tracheostomy. Many antibiotics and EM were then applied. Notwithstanding an inevitable interruption of anti-P. aeruginosa agents due to a fever, his clinical course was good so he could be discharge.
These 4 cases suggestted the efficacy of EM for the treatment of lower air way infection of patients tracheomized with chronic respiratory diseases.
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