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Asthma and COPD

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Emergency Department Critical Care

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Abstract

Asthma, a reversible bronchial reactive airway disease process, is heterogeneous clinical condition involving bronchoconstriction, airway wall thickening, and mucus production. Obstructive expiratory airflow limitations cause symptoms of wheezing, cough, and chest tightness. Triggers and symptoms vary over time, with diagnosis confirmed by history and response in spirometry testing. Treatment remains inhaled beta-agonists (short and long acting), steroids (inhaled and oral/intravenous), inhaled muscarinics, and inhaled anticholinergics. Additional therapies can be used for severe, frequent exacerbations refractory to first-line preventative and emergency treatments. Overlap of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with asthma can occur, with treatment geared toward improving airflow, ventilator work support (NIV), and mechanical ventilation, if necessary. Ventilatory support of the severe asthmatic can be quite challenging with air-trapping and ventilator synchrony.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Critical Care Medicine, University of Miami Hospital, Miami, FL, USA

    Jonathan Auerbach

  2. Critical Care Medicine and Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Lillian Emlet

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  1. Jonathan Auerbach
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Correspondence to Lillian Emlet .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Medicine, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL, USA

    Joseph R. Shiber

  2. Resuscitation & Emergency Critical Care, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA

    Scott D. Weingart

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Auerbach, J., Emlet, L. (2020). Asthma and COPD. In: Shiber, J., Weingart, S. (eds) Emergency Department Critical Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28794-8_5

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