Chest X-ray (CXR) is an important tool in the assessment of children with suspected foreign body aspiration (FBA), although it can falsely be interpreted as normal in one-third of the cases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the positive predictive value of CXR in children hospitalized with suspected FBA, when interpreted by three disciplines: pediatric pulmonology, pediatric radiology, and pediatric residents. This is a retrospective study that included children aged 0-18 years, admitted with suspected FBA, between 2009 and 2020 in one tertiary center. All patients underwent CXR and a flexible/rigid bronchoscopy for the definitive diagnosis of FBA, up to 1 week apart. Two physicians from each discipline interpreted the CXR, independently. Intra-raters\' and inter-raters\' agreements were assessed. Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated for each discipline. Four hundred seventy-three children were included in the study, 175 (37%) with FBA and 298 (63%) without FBA on flexible/rigid bronchoscopy. The most common radiological findings, as interpreted by a pediatric pulmonologist, were unilateral hyperinflation (47%), radiopaque FB (37.6%), lobar atelectasis (10.3%), unilateral hyperinflation with atelectasis (3.4%), and lobar consolidation (1.7%). Intra-raters\' agreement ranged from 0.744 (p < 0.001) among pediatric pulmonologists to 0.326 (p < 0.001) among pediatric radiologists. AUC for predicting FBA based on a CXR was 0.81, 0.77, and 0.7 when interpreted by pediatric pulmonologists, pediatric residents, and radiologists, respectively (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: CXR has a high positive predictive value and independently predicts FBA in children; however, normal CXR should not rule out FBA. Predictability is variable among different disciplines.
BACKGROUND: • Chest X-ray is an important tool in the assessment of children with suspected foreign body aspiration (FBA). • Chest X-ray can be interpreted as normal in one-third of the cases.
BACKGROUND: • Chest X-ray independently predicts FBA in children, with a high positive predictive value. • The ability of chest x-ray to predict FBA in children differs between pediatric residents, pediatric radiologists, and pediatric pulmonologists.

Background Diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) is often delayed or missed, leading to disease progression and missed treatment opportunities. In this study, we measured variation in care provided by board-certified cardiologists and pulmonologists in simulated patients with potentially undiagnosed PH. Methods and Results In a cross-sectional study (https://www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04693793), 219 US practicing cardiologists and pulmonologists cared for simulated patients presenting with symptoms of chronic dyspnea and associated signs of potential PH. We scored the clinical quality-of-care decisions made in a clinical encounter against predetermined evidence-based criteria. Overall, quality-of-care scores ranged from 18% to 74%, averaging 43.2%±11.5%. PH, when present, was correctly suspected 49.1% of the time. Conversely, physicians incorrectly identified PH in 53.7% of non-PH cases. Physicians ordered 2-dimensional echocardiography in just 64.3% of cases overall. Physicians who ordered 2-dimensional echocardiography in the PH cases were significantly more likely to get the presumptive diagnosis (61.9% versus 30.7%; P<0.001). Ordering other diagnostic work-up items showed similar results for ventilation/perfusion scan (81.5% versus 51.4%; P=0.005) and high-resolution computed tomography (60.4% versus 43.2%; P=0.001). Physicians who correctly identified PH were significantly more likely to order confirmatory right heart catheterization or refer to PH center (67.3% versus 15.8%; P<0.001). Conclusions A wide range of care in the clinical practice among simulated patients presenting with possible PH was found, specifically in the evaluation and plan for definitive diagnosis of patients with PH. The delay or misdiagnosis of PH is likely attributed to a low clinical suspicion, nonspecific symptoms, and underuse of key diagnostic tests. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT04693793.

BACKGROUND: Asthma education programs (AEPs) have been shown to increase quality of life and reduce emergency treatments and hospital admissions. Despite the proven benefits, only a minority of asthma patients attend such programs. To increase the number of educated patients, an online education program (electronic AEP, eAEP) for asthma patients has been developed. The present study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the eAEP in terms of asthma knowledge, asthma control and emergency treatments in general practice settings.
METHODS: This is a cluster randomized controlled trial including 100 patients with bronchial asthma from 20 general practices in Bavaria, Germany. General practices will be randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. Patients in the intervention group will receive access to the eAEP and instructions to complete this program within two weeks. Patients in the control group will receive usual care including a referral to face-to-face AEP (fAEP) by a certified primary care physician or a pulmonologist according to guideline recommendations. Furthermore, patients of both the intervention and control groups will be invited to a follow-up consultation in their general practice after completion of the eAEP and fAEP (three weeks and twelve weeks after study inclusion, respectively) to discuss any open issues. Outcomes for both groups will be assessed at baseline (t0), after two weeks (t1), three months (t2) and six months (t3). The primary outcome is the comparison of asthma knowledge gain between intervention and control groups after completion of the eAEP (two weeks after study inclusion) and fAEP (twelve weeks after study inclusion), respectively. Secondary outcomes include asthma control, frequency of emergency treatments, patient autonomy as well as attitudes towards asthma medication.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present trial will provide knowledge about the effectiveness of an online education program for asthma patients compared to usual care in primary care.
BACKGROUND: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS), DRKS00028805 . Registered 22 April 2022.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma are treatable but greatly underdiagnosed disorders. Telemedicine made it possible to continue diagnosis, follow-up visits and treatment modifications during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study describes the management of patients with COPD and asthma, and their treatments during the pandemic from the pulmonologist\'s perspective.
NEUMOBIAL was an ecological study with aggregated data. A total of 279 Spanish pulmonologists answered a 60-question survey about their last 10 patients, focused on the characterisation and changes in visits and treatments during the pandemic.
Most pulmonologists (72.0%) considered that the pandemic negatively altered the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with asthma or COPD. Diagnostic tests were reduced during the pandemic, mainly because they were not recommended by pulmonologists (68.1% and 72.7% in the case of COPD and asthma tests, respectively). Moreover, 17.3% of the COPD and 19.1% of the asthma visits were remote visits. According to pulmonologists, low adherence to treatment was mainly due to a lack of patient knowledge about their disease (75.3% and 81.7% in COPD and asthma, respectively). Other factors that also influenced adherence were inadequate use of the inhaler (59.5% for COPD and 57.7% for asthma) and a lack of knowledge about the device (57.3% for COPD and 57.7% for asthma). Pulmonologists chose Zonda® for COPD because of the ease of use of the device (73.1%) and the ability to check whether the entire dose was inhaled (69.5%). For asthma, Spiromax® was chosen because of the ease of use of the device (85.7%) and the possibility of using a single device for maintenance and reliever treatment (82.4%).
According to pulmonologists, during the pandemic, treatments for COPD and asthma were mainly chosen on the basis of their ease of use; treatment adherence was good; and the number of remote visits increased.

Propofol-based sedation provides faster recovery than midazolam-based regimens with similar safety and comfort during video flexible bronchoscope (VFB) procedures. Pulmonologist-administered propofol \"balanced\" analgosedation (PAP-BAS) is still debated in Italy. In this real-life study, PAP-BAS safety and comfort during VFB procedures were investigated. We analysed prospectively the subjects undergoing elective VFB procedures in the Pulmonology and RICU of Arezzo Hospital between February and July 2019. PAP-BAS combined low propofol and meperidine doses titrated to achieve an RASS score between 0 and -3. The primary end-point was the complications\' rate. Secondary end-points were as follows: the relation between propofol\'s dose and a subject\'s comfort assessed with a VAS, recovery time according to a modified Aldrete score ≥9, RASS, and subjects\' will of undergoing the procedure again. We collected postprocedure symptoms\' intensity too. Our 158 study patients (67 years; SD ± 14; 64% males) incurred in 25% of complication, fully resolved with medical therapy. Neither recourse to ventilator support nor death was reported. Intraprocedural comfort was good (94% of VAS score ≤2). Among postprocedural symptoms, cough was the most frequently reported, in 36% of the cases. Although half of subjects remembered the procedure, 90% of them would have repeated it, if necessary. 85% of them recovered from procedures within 10 minutes. Complications, VAS, and recovery time were not correlated with propofol dose. To our knowledge, this is the first Italian study showing that PAP-BAS to perform a VFB procedure is safe, well tolerated with a quick recovery. Randomised controlled trials are warranted to confirm these preliminary results.

BACKGROUND: Incidental and screening-identified lung nodules are common, and a bronchoscopic evaluation is frequently nondiagnostic. The Percepta Genomic Sequencing Classifier (GSC) is a genomic classifier developed in current and former smokers which can be used for further risk stratification in these patients. Percepta GSC has the capability of up-classifying patients with a pre-bronchoscopy risk that is high (> 60%) to \"very high risk\" with a positive predictive value of 91.5%. This prospective, randomized decision impact survey was designed to test the hypothesis that an up-classification of risk of malignancy from high to very high will increase the rate of referral for surgical or ablative therapy without additional intervening procedures while increasing physician confidence.
METHODS: Data were collected from 37 cases from the Percepta GSC validation cohort in which the pre-bronchoscopy risk of malignancy was high (> 60%), the bronchoscopy was nondiagnostic, and the patient was up-classified to very high risk by Percepta GSC. The cases were randomly presented to U.S pulmonologists in three formats: a pre-post cohort where each case is presented initially without and then with a GSG result, and two independent cohorts where each case is presented either with or without with a GSC result. Physicians were surveyed with respect to subsequent management steps and confidence in that decision.
RESULTS: One hundred and one survey takers provided a total of 1341 evaluations of the 37 patient cases across the three different cohorts. The rate of recommendation for surgical resection was significantly higher in the independent cohort with a GSC result compared to the independent cohort without a GSC result (45% vs. 17%, p < 0.001) In the pre-post cross-over cohort, the rate increased from 17 to 56% (p < 0.001) following the review of the GSC result. A GSC up-classification from high to very high risk of malignancy increased Pulmonologists\' confidence in decision-making following a nondiagnostic bronchoscopy.
CONCLUSIONS: Use of the Percepta GSC classifier will allow more patients with early lung cancer to proceed more rapidly to potentially curative therapy while decreasing unnecessary intervening diagnostic procedures following a nondiagnostic bronchoscopy.

BACKGROUND: People who are eager to quit smoking often lack long-term, daily smoking cessation guidance. In addition, advances in mobile communication technology offer promising ways for providing tobacco dependence treatment. However, it is unclear whether the doctor-WeChat network can improve the smoking cessation rate of nicotine-dependent patients.
METHODS: In this prospective single-blind cohort study, 250 smokers were enrolled from May 2018 to October 2018. They were randomly divided into two groups, with or without doctors\' active smoking cessation service, and followed up for 6 months. The smoking cessation rate and characteristics of successful smoking cessation groups were compared. The reasons for relapse were also analysed.
RESULTS: After smoking cessation for 3 months, the success rate of the group involving active respiratory physicians was 65.0% (80/123), whereas the success rate of the control group was 34.7% (34/98). After 6 months, the success rate of the group involving active respiratory physicians was 55.3% (68/123), while that of the control group was only 11.2% (11/98). There was no difference in the weight change of the participants between the two groups. Subgroup analysis showed that doctors\' participation had a greater impact on the success of smoking cessation in men younger than 45 years or unemployed.
CONCLUSIONS: Doctors in mobile smoking cessation services played a very important role in improving quit rates. Our research provided methodological guidance for further clinical trials and a template for further real-world applications of smoking cessation services.

BACKGROUND: The disposable bronchoscope is an excellent alternative to face the problem of SARS-CoV-2 and other cross infections, but the bronchoscopist\'s perception of its quality has not been evaluated.
METHODS: To evaluate the quality of the Ambu-aScope4 disposable bronchoscope, we carried out a cross-sectional study in 21 Spanish pulmonology services. We use a standardized questionnaire completed by the bronchoscopists at the end of each bronchoscopy. The variables were described with absolute and relative frequencies, measures of central tendency and dispersion depending on their nature. The existence of learning curves was evaluated by CUSUM analysis.
RESULTS: The most frequent indications in 300 included bronchoscopies was bronchial aspiration in 69.3% and the median duration of these was 9.1 min. The route of entry was nasal in 47.2% and oral in 34.1%. The average score for ease of use, image, and aspiration quality was 80/100. All the planned techniques were performed in 94.9% and the bronchoscopist was satisfied in 96.6% of the bronchoscopies. They highlighted the portability and immediacy of the aScope4TM to start the procedure in 99.3%, the possibility of taking and storing images in 99.3%. The CUSUM analysis showed average scores > 70/100 from the first procedure and from the 9th procedure more than 80% of the scores exceeded the 80/100 score.
CONCLUSIONS: The aScope4™ scored well for ease of use, imaging, and aspiration. We found a learning curve with excellent scores from the 9th procedure. Bronchoscopists highlighted its portability, immediacy of use and the possibility of taking and storing images.

BACKGROUND: Fiberoptic tracheal intubation (FTI) in bronchoscopy is widely performed with a conventional Portex tracheal tube (PTT). Occasionally, it is difficult for pulmonologists with limited experience to insert a tube beyond the vocal cords and advance it into the trachea. A new endotracheal tube, the Parker Flex-Tip tube (PFT), was recently designed. We compared the usefulness and safety of PFT versus PTT for FTI in bronchoscopy performed by pulmonologists with limited experience.
METHODS: Forty consecutive patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the PFT group (n = 20) or PTT group (n = 20). The time required for the tip of the endotracheal tube to pass from the mouth to the carina, the number of vomiting reflexes, the number of attempts to pass the tube through the vocal cords during intubation, complications, and technical difficulty of intubation were evaluated.
RESULTS: Both the PFT and PTT groups exhibited high intubation success rates (100% vs. 90%, respectively). The PFT group was intubated faster than the PTT group (11.5 [5-45] s vs. 22.5 [8-270] s, respectively, p < 0.01). The PFT group showed fewer vomiting reflexes and tube impingements than the PTT group (p < 0.05). Operators felt it was easier to intubate with PFT versus PTT (p < 0.01). Complications were not significantly different between the two groups.
CONCLUSIONS: For pulmonologists with limited experience who perform FTI in bronchoscopy, intubation using PFT versus PTT is faster and easier, without an increase in complications.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 5-10% of patients with asthma have severe disease. High-quality real-world studies are needed to identify areas for improved management.
OBJECTIVE: Aligned with the International Severe Asthma Registry, the CHRONICLE study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03373045) was developed to address this need in the US.
METHODS: Learnings from prior studies were applied to develop a real-world, prospective, noninterventional study of US patients with confirmed severe asthma who are treated by subspecialist physicians and require biologic or maintenance systemic immunosuppressant therapy or who are uncontrolled by high-dosage inhaled corticosteroids and additional controllers. Target enrollment is 4000 patients, with patient observation for ≥3 years. A geographically diverse sample of allergist/immunologist and pulmonologist sites approach all eligible patients under their care and report patient characteristics, treatment, and health outcomes every 6 months. Patients complete online surveys every 1-6 months.
UNASSIGNED: From February 2018 to February 2019, 102 sites screened 1428 eligible patients; 936 patients enrolled. Study sites (40% allergist/immunologist, 42% pulmonologist, 18% both) were similar to other US asthma subspecialist samples. Enrolled patients were 67% female with median ages at enrollment and diagnosis of 55 (range: 18-89) and 26 (0-80) years, respectively. Median body mass index was 31 kg/m2; 3% and 29% were current or former smokers, respectively, and >60% reported ≥1 exacerbation in the prior year and suboptimal symptom control.
CONCLUSIONS: CHRONICLE will provide high-quality provider- and patient-reported data from a large, real-world cohort of US adults with subspecialist-treated severe asthma.