Pulmonary Disease

Answer 2 Admit the patient to the hospital with a diagnosis of status asthmaticus. Asthma symptoms and reduced flow rates that are unresponsive to initial therapy are defined as status asthmaticus. This patient has a severe exacerbation characterized by elevated pulsus paradoxus, use of accessory muscles, and peak expiratory flows (PEFs) less than 50‰ of predicted, with no improvement after inhalation of bronchodilators. With minimal airflow, wheezes may not be heard. This patient should be urgently admitted to the hospital. An arterial blood gas measurement should be obtained to evaluate for hypercarbic respiratory failure. Antibiotics are not indicated for exacerbations of asthma, unless a specific infection is identified. Click here to return to the questions

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