COPD exacerbation — acute management

PLAB 2 & PRES 3 · respiratory · medium · 10 minutes

Candidate brief

Mrs Daly, 68, attends the ED with 2 days of increased breathlessness and green sputum. She has known COPD. Take a focused history and outline acute management.

What examiners look for

NICE NG115 COPD: controlled O2 to avoid hypercapnia; short steroid course; NIV for acidotic type 2 failure.

Guideline references

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng115
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/copd/

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