Lightning Learning: Moderate Asthma

““Not all asthmatics will need admission and appropriate management in the ED can enable safe discharge.””

— advice is based on local guidelines & procedures

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What?

Moderate Asthma:

1. Increasing symptoms

2. PEF >50-75% best or predicted

3. No features of acute severe asthma

Acute Severe:

1. PEF 33-50% best or predicted

2. RR ≥25/min

3. HR ≥110/min

4. Inability to complete sentences in one breath

Why?

Not all asthmatics will need admission and appropriate management in the ED can enable safe discharge.

Patients with PEF >75% best or predicted 60 mins after initial treatment may be discharged from ED, unless other reasons for admission (BTS/SIGN guideline).

Remember to “safety net” all patients discharged from the ED.

Further Reading

• BTS/SIGN: Asthma Guideline
• RCEM Learning: Asthma