ALS algorithm

- A possible diagnosis

You have some concerns that Mr Tanaka may be suffering from a severe asthma attack. Select Essentials to view the Severity of Acute Asthma Exacerbations table which will help you assess the severity of Mr Tanaka’s acute asthma and then:
Select one or more options and then select Confirm.
Benjamin Tanaka – a 58-year-old man.
 
 
 
 
 
 

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That is not quite right.

Feedback

That is not quite right. The correct course of treatment for a patient who is suffering from an asthma attack is to give them oxygen, nebulised ß2 agonists.

The correct course of treatment here would be to:

  • Call for senior help
  • Follow the abcde approach
  • Ensure optimal medical management of asthma – oxygen, nebulisers repeated as necessary(beta agonist, anticholinergic), steroids.

You may also wish to consider administering IV magnesium, IV salbutamol, IV fluids. Discuss IV aminophylline infusion.

Feedback

That is not right.

Feedback

That is not right. The correct course of treatment for a patient who is suffering from an asthma attack is to give them oxygen, nebulised ß2 agonists.

The correct course of treatment here would be to:

  • Call for senior help
  • Follow the abcde approach
  • Ensure optimal medical management of asthma – oxygen, nebulisers repeated as necessary(beta agonist, anticholinergic), steroids.

You may also wish to consider administering IV magnesium, IV salbutamol, IV fluids. Discuss IV aminophylline infusion.

Feedback

That is right. The correct course of treatment for a patient who is suffering from an asthma attack is to give them oxygen, nebulised ß2 agonists.

The correct course of treatment here would be to:

  • Call for senior help
  • Follow the abcde approach
  • Ensure optimal medical management of asthma – oxygen, nebulisers repeated as necessary(beta agonist, anticholinergic), steroids.

You may also wish to consider administering IV magnesium, IV salbutamol, IV fluids. Discuss IV aminophylline infusion.

References

See chapter 12 of the ALS manual for further reading about Special Circumstances.

Essentials:

Mr Tanaka’s ABCDE results

A : Clear
B : RR 30 min-1, PEFR unrecordable, SpO2 86% on 6 litres min[sup]-1[/sup] oxygen via Hudson mask
C : P 140 min[sup]-1[/sup] BP 100/60 mmHg
D : Unable to speak and starting to tire
E : Pale and clammy

Severity of Acute Asthma Exacerbations table
The severity of acute asthma is summarised in this table. (From British Thoracic Society/ Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network Guideline on the Management of Asthma – www.brit-thoracic.org.uk/External websiteOpens in a new window).

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