Acute asthma exacerbation

Background

• 3 questions
  • 1. Does this pt have asthma?
    • Most wheezing in pt <3yr is not asthma
  • 2. What is the severity?
  • 3. Is there a treatable preciptant?

Diagnosis

• Dyspnea, wheezing, and cough
• Prolonged expiration
• Accessory muscle use
• Sign of impending ventilatory failure
  • Paradoxical respiration
    • Chest deflation and abdominal protrusion during inspriation
  • Altered mental status
  • "Silent chest"

DDX

1. CHF ("cardiac asthma")
2. Upper airway obstruction
3. Aspiration of foreign body or gastric acid
4. Bronchogenic carcinoma with endobronchial obstruction
5. Metastatic carcinoma with lymphangitic metastasis
6. Sarcoidosis with endobronchial obstruction
7. Vocal cord dysfunction
8. Multiple pulmonary emboli (rare)

Work-Up

Consider CXR if:

1. Fever > 102.2
2. Worsening sx
3. Poor response to Rx
4. 1st wheeze

Treatment

1. Albuterol
   1. Nebulizer
      1. 2.5-5mg q20min x3, then 2.5-10mg q1-4hr as needed OR
      2. Continuous = 0.15mg/kg/hr (max 25mg/hr)
   2. MDI
      1. 4-8 puffs q20min up to 4h, then q1-4hr as needed
2. Ipratropium
   1. 0.5mg q20min x3
3. Steroids
   1. Prednisone
      1. Inpatient - 40-80mg/day in one or two divided doses
      2. Outpt - 40-60mg/day in one or two divided doses x5-10d
   2. Dexamethasone
      1. 0.6mg/kg (max 16kg), 2nd dose 36hr later
   3. Methylprednisolone
   4. 1mg/kg IV q 4–6hr
4. Magnesium
   1. 1-2gm IV over 30min
5. Epinephrine
   1. 1:1000 0.01mg/kg (max 0.5mg) Q20min x 3 SQ OR
6. Terbutaline
   1. 0.25mg q20min x 3Q SQ
      • Caution in elderly/CHF
7. Ketamine
8. Non-invasive Ventilation
   1. Consider as alternative to intubation
   2. Alleviates muscle fatigue which leads to larger tidal volumes
   3. Maximize inspiratory support
      1. Inspiratory pressure 8
      2. PEEP 0-3
9. Intubation
   1. Tidal volume 8cc/kg ideal wt
   2. PEEP 0
   3. Assist-control ventilation
   4. Flow rate 80
   5. Resp rate
      1. Start slow to avoid air-trapping
      2. RR ~ 10
      3. Make sure plateau pressure <30
         1. If >30 must lower resp rate
   6. Use bronchodilators even when intubated
   7. If pt desats/codes while on ventilator:
      1. Immediately disconnect from vent
         1. Allows for expiration of stacked breaths
      2. Connect to BVM
         1. Allows for troubleshooting of ventilator
      3. Verify tube placement (end-tidal CO2)
      4. Verify if tube is obstructed
         1. Place suction catheter
      5. Is this a tension ptx?
         1. Ultrasound; tx if necessary

Disposition

• Peak Flow = (30 x age (yrs)) + 30
• Severe = <50% predicted Peak flow
• Severe = <91% SaO2

Source

Rosen's, Tintinalli, EMcrit Podcast 15