1. Persistent Cough Following Pulmonary Resection: Observational and Empiric Study of Possible Causes 
Noriyoshi Sawabata, MD, Hajime Maeda, MD, Shin-ichi Takeda, MD, Masayoshi Inoue, MD, Masaru Koma, MD, Toshiteru Tokunaga, MD, Hikaru Matsuda, MD 
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 
Volume 79, Issue 1, Pages (January 2005)
DOI: /j.athoracsur
Copyright © 2005 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions

2. Fig 1
Schema of the empiric study. The grade of coughing was defined using a VAS with a minimum of 0 and maximum of 10. (CAP = coughing after pulmonary resection; PPI = proton pump inhibitor; VAS = visual analog scale; Ws = weeks.)
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.athoracsur )
Copyright © 2005 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions

3. Fig 2
Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in patients with persistent coughing following pulmonary resection. The percentage of all patients in the subchronic phase (<1 year from the day of surgery) and chronic phase (>1 year) with GER symptoms was 67% and 30%, respectively (p = 0.006). □ = GER negative; ■ = GER positive.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.athoracsur )
Copyright © 2005 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions

4. Fig 3
Empiric therapy study results. Coughing did not worsen in any of the patients. In 18 patients, the coughing improved, whereas symptoms did not change in 2. The average visual analog scale (VAS) score was 6.5 ± 2.5 before starting therapy and 2.3 ± 2.6 posttherapy.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery  , DOI: ( /j.athoracsur )
Copyright © 2005 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions