July 2007

Section Input Drives AARC Congress
The 2007 AARC International Respiratory Congress may still be several months away – this December 1-4 in Orlando, FL – but it’s not too soon to begin making plans to attend. And as a Specialty Section member, you have even more reason to register for the meeting, because much of what you’ll see on the Final Program will have come directly from your peers. Every year the sections recommend topics for the Congress, and most end up on the agenda, in the form of lectures and symposia geared directly to your special interests and concerns. LEARN MORE

Combined Procedures Safe and Effective
The combined use of endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB) is more effective than either procedure alone in the diagnosis of peripheral lung lesions, report the authors of a new study in this month’s American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. The investigation was conducted among 120 patients who were randomly assigned to either EBUS alone, ENB alone, or ENB and EBUS in combination. The EBUS procedure by itself had a diagnostic yield of 69%. ENB alone had a diagnostic yield of 59%. But the combination of the two increased the diagnostic yield to 88%, independent of lesion size. Complication rates were about the same across the groups. READ PRESS RELEASE

ATS/ERS Publish Preschool Pulmonary Function Testing Statement
The American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society have published a new statement on pulmonary function testing in preschool children, noting the feasibility of the testing and outlining its use in this population. The statement focuses on spirometry, tidal breathing measurements, the interrupter technique, forced oscillation, gas washout techniques, and bronchial responsiveness tests. READ PRESS RELEASE READ STATEMENT

Reference Values of FENO Established
Swedish researchers who set out to establish reference values of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) in adult never-smokers without asthma, wheezing, dry cough, or the use of inhaled steroids have come up with the following reference equation: Ln(FENO) = 0.057 + 0.013 x height (in centimeters) + 0.0088 x age (in years). The residual SD was 0.51, and the explanatory value was 9%. A model based only on results from nonatopic people in the study resulted in this reference equation: Ln(FENO) = -0.0026 + 0.013 x height (in centimeters) + 0.010 x age (in years). The residual SD for this equation was 0.48, and the explanatory value was 11%. The authors conclude, “Normal values of FENO for adults may be predicted on the basis of age and height. However, as the reference equations only account for about 9 to 11% of the variation, the most important information that could be extracted from the study is that the upper limits of FENO range from 24.0 to 54.0 parts per billion, depending on age and height.” The report appeared in the June issue of CHEST. READ ABSTRACT

Methacholine Challenge Testing, Reimbursement, Outlined in Report
South Carolina researchers publishing in the June issue of CHEST review methacholine challenge testing, including its indications, testing sites, and the expertise needed to perform the test. The authors also provide two standard testing methods, along with information on proper coding and reimbursement methodologies. READ ABSTRACT