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. 2004 Jan 1;4(1):72–76. doi: 10.7861/clinmedicine.4-1-72

Respiratory failure in tuberculosis: a modern perspective

John M Shneerson 1
PMCID: PMC4954282  PMID: 14998273

Abstract

Acute respiratory failure is more common in miliary tuberculosis than in tuberculous bronchopneumonia and also has a worse prognosis. Chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure is frequent after both spinal tuberculosis and surgical treatments for pulmonary tuberculosis. It may develop insidiously or present acutely, for instance, during a chest infection. Hypoventilation appears during REM sleep before non-REM sleep or wakefulness and is readily treatable with non-invasive ventilation. The prognosis is good even if initially tracheostomy ventilation is required temporarily.

Key Words: miliary tuberculosis, nasal ventilation, nocturnal hypoventilation, phrenic nerve crush, plombage, respiratory failure, spinal tuberculosis, thoracoplasty, tuberculosis, weaning

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