Improved ventilatory function associated with relief of chest pain in a patient with Kartagener's syndrome treated by subcutaneous analgesia

• Published in: Respiratory medicine Vol. 98; no. 7; pp. 679 - 681
• Main Authors: O’Connor, T.M, Swords, R, O’Keefe, D, McNicholas, W.T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2004; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Analgesics; Biological and medical sciences; Chest Pain - physiopathology; Chest Pain - therapy; Electrodes; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; Kartagener Syndrome - physiopathology; Kartagener Syndrome - therapy; Medical research; Medical sciences; Pneumology; Quality of life; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation - methods; Vital Capacity; Human; Analgesia; Association; Pain; Treatment; Subcutaneous; Thorax; Syndrome; Pneumology
• ISSN: 0954-6111; 1532-3064
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2003.12.008

In primary ciliary dyskinesia, inflammation is not restricted to the ciliated conducting airways, but also occurs in the alveolar space.1 Repetitive episodes of pleuritic chest pain are a feature of patients with bronchiectasis and middle lobe syndrome.2-4 Pleuritic chest pain can occur in up to 21% of patients with bronchiectasis and 19% of patients with middle lobe syndrome and characteristically occurs in an area overlying a bronchiectatic lobe.2,3 This presentation can be confused with other conditions, such as pulmonary embolus.4 However, the natural history of pleuritic chest pain and its response to analgesia in these conditions is poorly described. Analgesics may lead to serious and difficult to manage side effects in these patients.4,9 Few interventions have a significant impact on quality of life or lung function in patients with most pulmonary disorders.