Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: The Swiss Guidelines

Abstract

The new Swiss Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Guidelines are based on a previous version, which was published 10 years ago. The Swiss Respiratory Society felt the need to update the previous document due to new knowledge and novel therapeutic developments about this prevalent and important disease. The recommendations and statements are based on the available literature, on other national guidelines and, in particular, on the GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) report. Our aim is to advise pulmonary physicians, general practitioners and other health care workers on the early detection and diagnosis, prevention, best symptomatic control, and avoidance of COPD as well as its complications and deterioration.

Respiratory Impedance and Response to Salbutamol in Healthy Individuals and Patients with COPD

“…This difference may arise from changes in lung volume that occur secondary to the pathophysiological alterations associated with the progression of the disease [3,4]. Little is known about the effect of airway obstruction on the bronchodilator response.…”

Pharmacological treatment optimisation for stable COPD: an endless story?

“…The same observation could be made when comparing the global GOLD document to various local (national) recommendations all over the world, which all move towards personalised medicine, i.e. tailoring treatment to individual patients' characteristics [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. This raises an important question: should local bodies put effort, energy and funds in the development of guidelines when well-documented global proposals already exist, and could be adopted as they are?…”

Monografia Giovani FADOI: dalle evidenze alla pratica clinica

“…È di solito normale nelle fasi precoci della BPCO e non è indicata nel follow-up di pazienti stabili. Fornisce informazioni aspecifiche, che non sono tanto utili a fini diagnostici, quanto ad escludere diagnosi alternative e ad evidenziare comorbilità e/o complicanze (169). I rilievi radiografici di più frequente riscontro sono l'appiattimento del diaframma nella proiezione latero-laterale e l'aumento di volume nello spazio retrosternale, indici di iperdistensione polmonare, l'incrementata trasparenza polmonare e l'assottigliamento della trama vascolare (19).…”