Outpatient respiratory therapy of chronic nonspecific lung diseases

Abstract

Experience gained in a group outpatient respiratory therapy of 362 patients with different chronic non-specific pulmonary diseases (in their remission stage) is generalized. The management of these patients was conducted at the Respiratory and Rehabilitation Centre organized under the auspices o f the Municipal Polyclinic No. 7 and directly supported by “ ETON ” , Russian — Bulgarian Joint Venture on Pulmonology Industry. Along with kinesiatrics and aerosoltherapy, the course of respiratory réadaptation included a number of equipment-aided and non -chemothepapeutic methods of respiratory treatment of patients with chronic non-specific pulmonary diseases, bronchitis, bronchial asthma, pulmonary emphysema and pneumosclerosis as well as subjects diagnosed as having frequent acute respiratory infections. Initial experience of prescribing long -term home oxygen therapy in serious cases of chronic respiratory insufficiency concurrent with arterial hypoxem ia and sometimes with hypercapnia, using “ DeVilbiss” Oxygen Concentrators for the purpose, is analysed. The obtained positive results confirm the idea of setting up a network of outpatient respiratory centres in different parts of this country bearing in mind unravorable environmen tal factors and high percentage of patients suffering from chronic pulmonary diseases.