Asthma

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haitham Nsour ◽  
Anne E. Dixon

Asthma is one of the most common diseases in developed nations. A pathognomonic feature of asthma is episodic aggravations of the disease; these exacerbations can be life-threatening and contribute to a significant proportion of the public health burden of asthma. In the emergency department, successful management of asthma exacerbations requires early recognition and intervention before they become severe and potentially fatal. This review summarizes the pathophysiology, stabilization and assessment, diagnosis and treatment, and disposition and outcomes for asthma. Figures show the management of asthma exacerbations in the emergency department and hospital, pooled odds ratio comparing inhaled corticosteroids and oral corticosteroids with oral corticosteroids alone following emergency department discharge, and an asthma discharge plan at the emergency department. Tables list current asthma prevalence among selected demographic groups in the United States, risk factors for fatal asthma exacerbations, differential diagnosis of asthma exacerbations, and dosages of drugs for asthma exacerbations. This review contains 3 figures, 16 tables, and 88 references. Key Words: Asthma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, sinus disease, breathlessness, shortness of breath  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haitham Nsour ◽  
Anne E. Dixon

Asthma is one of the most common diseases in developed nations. A pathognomonic feature of asthma is episodic aggravations of the disease; these exacerbations can be life-threatening and contribute to a significant proportion of the public health burden of asthma. In the emergency department, successful management of asthma exacerbations requires early recognition and intervention before they become severe and potentially fatal. This review summarizes the pathophysiology, stabilization and assessment, diagnosis and treatment, and disposition and outcomes for asthma. Figures show the management of asthma exacerbations in the emergency department and hospital, pooled odds ratio comparing inhaled corticosteroids and oral corticosteroids with oral corticosteroids alone following emergency department discharge, and an asthma discharge plan at the emergency department. Tables list current asthma prevalence among selected demographic groups in the United States, risk factors for fatal asthma exacerbations, differential diagnosis of asthma exacerbations, and dosages of drugs for asthma exacerbations. This review contains 3 figures, 16 tables, and 88 references. Key Words: Asthma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, sinus disease, breathlessness, shortness of breath  


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kohei Hasegawa ◽  
Haitham Nsour ◽  
Anne E. Dixon

Asthma is one of the most common diseases in developed nations. A pathognomonic feature of asthma is episodic aggravations of the disease; these exacerbations can be life-threatening and contribute to a significant proportion of the public health burden of asthma. In the emergency department, successful management of asthma exacerbations requires early recognition and intervention before they become severe and potentially fatal. This review summarizes the pathophysiology, stabilization and assessment, diagnosis and treatment, and disposition and outcomes for asthma. Figures show the management of asthma exacerbations in the emergency department and hospital, pooled odds ratio comparing inhaled corticosteroids and oral corticosteroids with oral corticosteroids alone following emergency department discharge, and an asthma discharge plan at the emergency department. Tables list current asthma prevalence among selected demographic groups in the United States, risk factors for fatal asthma exacerbations, differential diagnosis of asthma exacerbations, and dosages of drugs for asthma exacerbations. This review contains 3 figures, 16 tables, and 88 references. Key Words: Asthma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, sinus disease, breathlessness, shortness of breath  


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haitham Nsour ◽  
Anne E. Dixon

Asthma is one of the most common diseases in developed nations. A pathognomonic feature of asthma is episodic aggravations of the disease; these exacerbations can be life-threatening and contribute to a significant proportion of the public health burden of asthma. In the emergency department, successful management of asthma exacerbations requires early recognition and intervention before they become severe and potentially fatal. This review summarizes the pathophysiology, stabilization and assessment, diagnosis and treatment, and disposition and outcomes for asthma. Figures show the management of asthma exacerbations in the emergency department and hospital, pooled odds ratio comparing inhaled corticosteroids and oral corticosteroids with oral corticosteroids alone following emergency department discharge, and an asthma discharge plan at the emergency department. Tables list current asthma prevalence among selected demographic groups in the United States, risk factors for fatal asthma exacerbations, differential diagnosis of asthma exacerbations, and dosages of drugs for asthma exacerbations. This review contains 3 figures, 16 tables, and 88 references. Key Words: Asthma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, sinus disease, breathlessness, shortness of breath  


2005 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 219-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascale Gervais ◽  
Isabelle Larouche ◽  
Lucie Blais ◽  
Anne Fillion ◽  
Marie-France Beauchesne

BACKGROUND: The management of asthma remains suboptimal despite the publication of Canadian asthma guidelines in 1999.OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted to estimate the proportion of patients admitted to the emergency department (ED) for an asthma exacerbation who received a management plan at discharge that was in accordance with seven criteria stated in the Canadian asthma guidelines. The present study took place in two tertiary care hospitals in Montreal, Quebec.RESULTS: A total of 37 patients were enrolled. Three (8%) patients received a management plan at discharge that was in accordance with all seven criteria. Inhaled corticosteroids and oral corticosteroids were prescribed at discharge for 29 (78%) and 35 (95%) patients, respectively. Minimal asthma education was provided for 29 (78%) patients and a medical follow-up was recommended to 22 (60%) patients. Airflow obstruction was evaluated at discharge for only 20 (54%) patients.CONCLUSION: Overall, asthma management at discharge from the ED was generally not in accordance with the 1999 Canadian asthma guidelines. A standardized management plan should be implemented in the ED to improve the care of patients with asthma exacerbations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-135
Author(s):  
Yasir Tarabichi ◽  
Jake Goyden ◽  
Rujia Liu ◽  
Steven Lewis ◽  
Joseph Sudano ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective The study sought to assess the feasibility of nationwide chronic disease surveillance using data aggregated through a multisite collaboration of customers of the same electronic health record (EHR) platform across the United States. Materials and Methods An independent confederation of customers of the same EHR platform proposed and guided the development of a program that leverages native EHR features to allow customers to securely contribute de-identified data regarding the prevalence of asthma and rate of asthma-associated emergency department visits to a vendor-managed repository. Data were stratified by state, age, sex, race, and ethnicity. Results were qualitatively compared with national survey-based estimates. Results The program accumulated information from 100 million health records from over 130 healthcare systems in the United States over its first 14 months. All states were represented, with a median coverage of 22.88% of an estimated state’s population (interquartile range, 12.05%-42.24%). The mean monthly prevalence of asthma was 5.27 ± 0.11%. The rate of asthma-associated emergency department visits was 1.39 ± 0.08%. Both measures mirrored national survey-based estimates. Discussion By organizing the program around native features of a shared EHR platform, we were able to rapidly accumulate population level measures from a sizeable cohort of health records, with representation from every state. The resulting data allowed estimates of asthma prevalence that were comparable to data from traditional epidemiologic surveys at both geographic and demographic levels. Conclusions Our initiative demonstrates the potential of intravendor customer collaboration and highlights an organizational approach that complements other data aggregation efforts seeking to achieve nationwide EHR-based chronic disease surveillance.


2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney E. Reinisch

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that can produce a constellation of noxious symptoms and potentially death when it reaches certain levels. Exposure to CO can be intentional (suicidal) or unintentional (accidental). CO poisoning is responsible for up to 40,000 to 50,000 emergency department visits and 5,000 to 6,000 deaths per year, making it one of the leading causes of poisoning death in the United States. When patients present to the emergency department with a constellation of symptoms, the advanced practice nurse should include environmental exposure in the differential diagnosis. This is especially important when family members present with similar complaints, such as headache or euphoria. Early recognition of CO poisoning is vital to identify individuals in need of prompt treatment and to prevent harmful and potential deadly exposure to others. Since patients often present with constitutional symptoms, including headache (most common), malaise, nausea, and dizziness, providers need to be cautious not to misdiagnose patients as having acute viral syndromes where CO poisoning could be the cause. Vigilance is needed during the winter months in cold climates when unintended poisoning is most common.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S300-S300
Author(s):  
Ashley Husebye ◽  
Caitlin Baxter ◽  
Elizabeth Wesenberg ◽  
Glen Hansen

Abstract Background Sepsis is a systemic response to an infection involving one or multiple organ failures frequently caused by bacteremia. Over a million cases of sepsis are reported in the United States annually with an estimated 25% mortality. Early recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of sepsis in the Emergency Department (ED) improves patient outcomes. Increased awareness of sepsis has fostered novel opportunities to improve diagnostics. EDs are increasingly targeted as areas of primary care for suspected septic patients. Understanding the etiology of ED sepsis supports empiric approaches and opportunities for targeted diagnostics. However, a systematic analysis of etiology of ED sepsis, spanning multiple years, is lacking. Methods A retrospective analysis conducted over 60 months at Hennepin County Medical Center, an inner-city level one trauma center with over 100,000 ED visits annually were examined. Positive blood cultures drawn in the ED were included in data analysis. Charts were reviewed for patient demographics and whether the culture was treated; infections that were not treated were considered contaminants, and relevant susceptibility patterns. Results A total of 8,013 blood cultures were drawn in the ED over an initial 12-month period. Of these, 8.4% (n = 674) were culture positive resulting in 731 microorganisms. Of these, 314 were treated as infections with the remaining considered contaminants. Overall contamination rate was 2.9%. Of clinically relevant positive blood cultures, 19.4% were Escherichia coli, 18.5% were Staphylococcus aureus, 27.1% were strep species (group A strep 5.4%, group B strep 4.8%, strep pneumonia 5.1%), 7.0% were Enterococcus faecalis, and 6.4% Klebsiella pneumonia. Among these species, they accounted for 78.4% of pertinent positive cultures. Gram-negative bacteremias accounted for 41% of infections compared with 59% for Gram-positive organisms. Conclusion A comprehensive understanding of the etiology of ED sepsis facilitates appropriate empiric antimicrobial prescribing for patients who present with sepsis in the ED. Data collected to date identifies five key bacterial species associated with over 78% of confirmed ED sepsis. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


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