ACUTE ASTHMA ADULTS

Question 1

what are the 3 types of acute asthma

Answer 1

• moderate
• severe
• life-threatening

Question 2

moderate acute asthma characteristics

peakflow, sentences, sp02, resp rate 5+/-

Answer 2

• peak flow > 50%
• able to complete full sentences
• sp02 ≥ 92%
• respiratory rate ≤ 30 in 5+yr or ≤ 40 in 1-5yr

Question 3

severe acute asthma characteristics

peakflow, sentence, resp rate adults 5+/-, heart rate 5+/-

Answer 3

• peak flow 33-50%
• unable to complete full sentences
• respiratory rate ≥ 25 in adult or >30 in 5+yr or >40 in 1-5yr
• heart rate >125bpm in 5+ or >140bpm in 1-5yr

Question 4

life-threatening acute asthma characteristics

Answer 4

• peak flow < 33%
• sp02 < 92%
• silent chest
• altered consciousness
• hypotension
• exhaustion

Question 5

is tx of moderate asthma of adults done in primary care or hospital?

Answer 5

1) home/primary care tx
2) if inadequate response then hosp

Question 6

moderate acute asthma tx adults

Answer 6

high dose of salbutamol (SABA) via PMI and spacer

Question 7

is severe/life-threatening acute tx of adults done in primary care or hospital

Answer 7

hospital immediately

Question 8

tx of severe/life-threatening acute asthma of adults

Answer 8

high dose of salbutamol (SABA) via oxygen driven nebuliser +/ nebulised ipratropium

Question 9

near-fatal/life-threatening with poor response to initial tx

acute asthma in adults

Answer 9

IV aminophylline

Question 10

tx of all adult pt with acute asthma

Answer 10

1) oral prednisolone
2) if x work then IV hydrocortisone or IM methylprednisolone

Question 11

tx of hypoxemic pt with acute asthma that is fatal/life-threatening

Answer 11

• supplementary oxygen
• maintain sp02 94-98%