Manual hyperinflation is one of the most used respiratory physiotherapy techniques in critically ill patients and consists of administering a higher volume of gaseous fluid than the patient performed using a self-inflating balloon (AMBU). This technique was developed with the objective of removing bronchial secretion and re-expansion of atelectasis lung areas, thus improving pulmonary compliance and oxygenation in mechanically ventilated patients....

With patients for whom it is difficult or near impossible to maintain adequate oxygenation by conventional means, it may become necessary to oxygenate the blood outside the body. One method used with moderate success is the procedure of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of ECMO in adult patients suffering from conditions associated with respiratory failure that is refractory to conventional means of treatment....

Prone positioning (PP) was advocated more than 40 years ago as a means of improving the oxygenation status in patients exhibiting acute respiratory failure (ARF) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The purpose of this meta-analysis is to determine if prone positioning (PP) is a more effective way of treating ARDS patients than supine positioning (SP) in patients that are refractory to conventional mechanical ventilation....

A bronchopleural fistula (BPF) is a pathologic communication between a bronchus and the pleural space. BPF has a high morbidity and mortality, therefore a timely diagnosis is of great importance. Methylene Blue has been used for the localization of BPF for decades and although other diagnostic tools are available, it remains favorable because it is widely available, safe and easy to perform. In this case report we would like to stress the ongoing relevance of this diagnostic method by presenting...