Pulmonary ossification is an idiopathic disorder that presents with the formation of mature bone in the pulmonary parenchyma. This is a very rare entity that occurs in conjunction with busulfan therapy as well as with a number of diseases including chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, congestive heart failure, myositis ossificans, and idiopathic interstitial fibrosis. It is usually seen in olde...

Simultaneous occurrence of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in different arterial territories is an uncommon event. We report on two cases of multiple spontaneous simultaneous ICH for which we could find no specific cause. A 73-year-old man, with no related medical history, was admitted to the hospital with simultaneous bithalamic ICH, and subsequently died of recurrent pneumonia. Second patient ...

Intralobar pulmonary sequestration is a rare malformation that predisposes to recurrent respiratory infections. It is difficult to diagnose unless a more extensive directed investigation (to the vasculature and pulmonary parenchyma) is take on. Failure to diagnose and treat this condition can lead to recurrent pneumonia and fatal hemoptysis. Most cases are diagnosed before the age of 20 years. ...

BACKGROUND Although thousands of infants under the age of 12 months die each year from pneumonia in Latin America, little is known regarding the true occurrence of pneumonia, wheezing and other related respiratory illnesses in this age group. METHODS AND RESULTS In order to describe the prevalence and risk factors for radiologically confirmed pneumonia during the first year of life, a birth-c...

Ortner syndrome or cardiovocal syndrome is a rare condition characterized by hoarseness of voice associated with cardiovascular pathology. Compression of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve by the pulmonary artery or left atrium is usually responsible. Recurrent aspiration pneumonia may cause significant morbidity and mortality. Early recognition and treatment along with removal of the underlyin...

Persistent atelectasis and recurrent pneumonia in the same location should raise suspicion of congenital anomalies or obstructing lesions of the bronchus leading to the affected area. We present an 8-year-old black female with a history of recurrent fever, cough, atelectasis of the right middle and lower lobes, and weight loss for several months. Flexible bronchoscopy revealed a polypoid mass o...

Endotracheal intubation for general anesthesia is usually a safe procedure. However, postoperative sore throat and mild hoarseness may occur due to laryngeal edema but bilateral vocal cord paralysis as a result of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury is a rare complication. We report a case of bilateral adductor vocal cord palsy following general anesthesia for abdominal surgery. Clinical presentat...

We describe three types of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia. Case 1. P. aeruginosa was isolated from the blood and sputum of a 29-year-old male non-smoker who developed severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Piperacillin was initially effective, but fever and lobular pneumonia with cavities developed seven days after discharge. Intravenous piperacillin/tazobactam and tobramycin were adminis...

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a primary immunodeficiency disease characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia and recurrent bacterial infections. The records of 65 patients with CVID (37 males and 28 females) in the age range of 24 to 537 months were reviewed. By the year 2003, 11 patients had died and seven patients could not be located. The total follow-up period was 221 patient-years....

BACKGROUND Children with congenital esophageal atresia (EA) and tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) have chronic respiratory symptoms including recurrent pneumonia, wheezing and persistent cough. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical findings of a large group of children with EA and TEF surgically corrected and the instrumental investigation to which they have undergone in order to bett...