How is severe asthma treated?
10mg salbutamol (5mls) Nebulised + 500mcg Atrovent (2mls) Nebulised
Repeat salbutamol 5mg @ 5/60
If patient worsens= IM adrenaline 500mcg
In severe asthma, when should IM adrenaline be administered?
If there is no response to nebulised therapy, if patient continues to speak single words or if rapidly deteriorating.
What is the treatment for an asthma patient who becomes unconscious with a pulse?
- Immediate Ventilations at 6-7ml/kg @ 5-8 vents/min
* Allow for prolonged exploratory phase
When an asthmatic patient looses cardiac output, what is the first action and why?
- Patient needs immediate assisted expiration and apnoea for 1min
- This is because the intrathoracic pressure is high due to gas trapping therefore venous return is compromised
Exacerbation of pre existing COPD can be defined as:
- increased dyspnoea
- increased cough
- increased sputum production
What are the indications for CPAP?
Sp02 of
What are the reasons to cease CPAP?
- Arrest
- Clinical deterioration
- No improvement after 1 hour
-HR
What is the treatment for COPD?
Irrespective of severity:
Salbutamol 10mg + 500mcg Atrovent
When treating COPD, after nebulised salbutamol and Atrovent what happens when there is adequate response or inadequate response?
Adequate: titrate 02 to nasal prongs Sp02 88-92%
Inadequate: CPAP (mica)
What are the 3 possible causes of upper airway obstruction?
- Partial obstruction
- Croup
- Suspected Epiglottitis
How is mild-moderate asthma treated?
First administer Ventolin. 4 breaths/4 doses.
-if no Ventolin
Salbutamol 10mg (5mls) nebulised. Repeat 5mg (2.5mls) neb after 5min
