What assessments would you perform for a patient presenting with an acute asthma attack?
What assessments would you perform for a patient presenting with an acute asthma attack?
Lung function tests are the basis for assessment of the severity of the asthmatic attack (table 4). Preferably, this should be undertaken by spirometry with measurement of the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) expressed as a percentage of predicted normal values.
What are the physical assessments of an asthmatic patient?
During a physical exam for asthma or allergies, your doctor will look at your ears, nose, throat, eyes, skin, chest and lungs. They may: Listen to your lungs for wheezing or whistling that could mean inflammation. Look in your nose and throat for swelling and drainage that could be caused by allergies.
How do you assess asthma exacerbation?
The signs of asthma exacerbation include agitation, increased respiratory rate, increased pulse rate, and decreased lung function as measured by FEV1, peak expiratory flow (PEF), Pao2, Paco2, and arterial oxygen saturation (Sao2).
What do you do for an acute asthma attack?
Steps to take immediately
- Sit up straight and try to remain calm.
- Take one puff of a reliever or rescue inhaler every 30 to 60 seconds, with a maximum of 10 puffs.
- If symptoms get worse or do not improve after 10 puffs, seek emergency medical care.
- If it takes longer than 15 minutes for help to arrive, repeat step 2.
How do you manage an acute asthma attack?
Emergency treatment
- Short-acting beta agonists, such as albuterol. These are the same medications as those in your quick-acting (rescue) inhaler.
- Oral corticosteroids.
- Ipratropium (Atrovent HFA).
- Intubation, mechanical ventilation and oxygen.
What are nursing interventions for asthma?
Nursing Care Plan for Asthma 1
| Nursing Interventions for Asthma | Rationales |
|---|---|
| Administer the prescribed asthma medications (e.g. bronchodilators, steroids, or combination inhalers / nebulizers). | Bronchodilators: To dilate or relax the muscles on the airways. Steroids: To reduce the inflammation in the lungs. |
What is a focused respiratory assessment?
A focused respiratory system assessment includes collecting subjective data about the patient’s history of smoking, collecting the patient’s and patient’s family’s history of pulmonary disease, and asking the patient about any signs and symptoms of pulmonary disease, such as cough and shortness of breath.
What is the management of acute asthma?
Inhaled bronchodilators (beta-2 agonists and anticholinergics) are the mainstay of asthma treatment in the emergency department. In adults and older children, albuterol given by a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) and spacer is as effective as that given by nebulizer.
What are signs of acute asthma?
Asthma signs and symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath.
- Chest tightness or pain.
- Wheezing when exhaling, which is a common sign of asthma in children.
- Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing.
- Coughing or wheezing attacks that are worsened by a respiratory virus, such as a cold or the flu.
What do I need to know about acute asthma?
In acute asthma, patients will exhibit increasing shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing, and/or wheezing. In contrast, poor asthma control typically presents with a diurnal variability in airflow and is a characteristic that is usually not seen during an acute exacerbation [3].
What is the main concern for a patient with an acute asthma exacerbation?
Seek medical attention right away if you have signs or symptoms of a serious asthma attack, which include: Severe breathlessness or wheezing, especially at night or in the early morning. The inability to speak more than short phrases due to shortness of breath. Having to strain your chest muscles to breathe.
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