Diagnosis and management of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Van Holden; Donald Slack III; Michael T. McCurdy; Nirav G. Shah

Diagnosis and management of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Emerg Med Pract. 2017 Oct;19(10):1-24.

Authors

Van Holden¹, Donald Slack III², Michael T. McCurdy³, Nirav G. Shah⁴

Affiliations

¹ Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellow, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD
² Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, MD
³ Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine and Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care; Director, Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
⁴ Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine; Director, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

PMID: 28926214

Abstract

Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a clinical diagnosis that is based on changes in dyspnea, cough, and/or sputum production in a COPD patient; however, patients presenting with an acute exacerbation may be undiagnosed or have a variety of comorbid conditions that can complicate diagnosis. This issue presents strategies and algorithms for the early use of evidence-based interventions, including appropriate use of antibiotics, bronchodilators, and corticosteroids, along with noninvasive ventilation with capnography, to minimize morbidity and mortality associated with this disease.