Description

Burge and Wedzicha listed criteria when a patient with an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should not be managed at home. The authors are from Birmingham Heartlands Hospital and St. Bartholomew's and Royal London School of Medicine.


 

Patient selection: exacerbation of COPD

 

Findings indicating that the patient should not be managed at home:

(1 ) respiratory rate > 25 breaths per minute

(2) pulse rate > 110 beats per minute

(3) PaO2 < 60 mm Hg (< 8 kPa)

(4) abnormal chest X-ray

(5) serious concomitant disease (comorbid disease)

(6) altered mental status

(7) living alone

 


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