Unit 3, Part 2

Question 1

A patient is seen in clinic for an asthma exacerbation. The provider administers three nebulizer treatments with little improvement, noting a pulse oximetry reading of 90% with 2 L of oxygen. A peak flow assessment is 70%. What is the next step in treating this patient?

a. Administer three more nebulizer treatments and reassess.
b. Admit to the hospital with specialist consultation.
c. Give epinephrine injections and monitor response.
d. Prescribe an oral corticosteroid medication.

Answer 1

ANS: B
Patients having an asthma exacerbation should be referred if they fail to improve after three nebulizer treatments or three epinephrine injections, have a peak flow less than 70% and a pulse oximetry reading less than 90% on room air. Giving more nebulizer treatments or administering epinephrine is not indicated. The patient will most likely be given IV corticosteroids; oral corticosteroids would be given if the patient is managed as an outpatient.

Question 2

An adult develops chronic cough with episodes of wheezing and shortness of breath. The provider performs chest radiography and other tests and rules out infection, upper respiratory, and gastroesophageal causes. Which test will the provider order initially to evaluate the possibility of asthma as the cause of these symptoms?

a. Allergy testing
b. Methacholine challenge test
c. Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR)
d. Spirometry

Answer 2

ANS: D
Spirometry is recommended at the time of initial assessment to confirm the diagnosis of asthma. Allergy testing is performed only if allergies are a possible trigger. The methacholine challenge test is performed if spirometry is inconclusive. PEFR is generally used to monitor asthma symptoms.

Question 3

A patient diagnosed with asthma calls the provider to report having a peak flow measure of 75%, shortness of breath, wheezing, and cough, and tells the provider that the symptoms have not improved significantly after a dose of albuterol. The patient uses an inhaled corticosteroid medication twice daily. What will the provider recommend?

a. Administering two more doses of albuterol
b. Coming to the clinic for evaluation
c. Going to the emergency department (ED)
d. Taking an oral corticosteroid

Answer 3

ANS: A
The patient is experiencing an asthma exacerbation and should follow the asthma action plan (AAP) which recommends three doses of albuterol before reassessing. The peak flow is above 70%, so ED admission is not indicated. The patient may be instructed to come to the clinic for oxygen saturation and spirometry evaluation after administering the albuterol. An oral corticosteroid may be prescribed if the patient will be treated as an outpatient after following the AAP.