Faculty Bibliography

The clinical courses of children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who underwent diagnostic flexible bronchoscopy at Bellevue Hospital from 1987-1992 were reviewed to determine the value of the procedure in patient management. Twenty-eight children (age 13 days to 12 years) underwent 31 bronchoscopies for indications including respiratory distress, fever and abnormal chest radiograph. Procedures were well tolerated. Complications were limited to transient hypoxia and epistaxis. Although 58% of bronchoscopies yielded a diagnosis (Pneumocystis carinii, Streptococcus viridans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Cytomegalovirus, atypical mycobacterium, giant cell pneumonia, and mechanical obstruction), empiric medical therapy was altered in only 16% of cases. Bronchoscopic diagnoses are correlated with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) classification, immune status, treatment and outcome

A prospective randomized study comparing the effectiveness of triamcinolone acetonide and beclomethasone dipropionate nasal sprays in the treatment of allergic or vasomotor rhinitis was conducted at New York University Medical Center Both medications were used at their recommended dosages. Fifty patients were evaluated during a 2-month treatment period. Nasal airflow and resistance were quantified by anterior active rhinomanometry using the Rhinotest microprocessor rhinomanometer. The patients' subjective complaints were graded on a standard questionnaire. Both steroid inhalants were highly effective in relieving local symptomatology and the subjective improvement in nasal obstruction correlated with rhinomanometric assessment of the nasal airway. Triamcinolone acetonide used once daily represents an alternative to the twice daily beclomethasone dipropionate nasal steroid spray currently available for the treatment of rhinitis