Introduction: Exacerbations of COPD are potentially serious events, the recognition and treatment of which appear to be poorly understood by both patients and doctors. The aim of this study is to describe, on the basis of two case histories, the management of exacerbations of COPD in emergency departments, to compare it with the current guidelines and to evaluate the extent of use of non-invasive ventilation in decompensated COPD.
Methods: The study took place between February and June 2004. Two case histories describing one moderate and one severe exacerbation with respiratory failure were written by the authors of the study and submitted to an emergency physician in a university hospital and a district hospital in each region.
Results: 110 questionnaires were returned from 20 university hospitals and 25 district hospitals. Only 38% of the episodes were identified correctly. 20% of doctors did not regard dyspnoea as a clinical sign of an exacerbation. 22% of doctors never prescribed bronchodilators, even in severe cases. Finally, non-invasive ventilation (NIPV) was used for only 9% of the moderate and 56% of the severe exacerbations.
Discussion: This study, although limited by certain factors, illustrates a number of points in need of improvement in the recognition and treatment of exacerbations of COPD in emergency departments, the use of NIPV, and the collaboration between emergency physicians, intensivists and respiratory physicians.