Summer listed warning signs which can identify a patient with status asthmaticus who is at risk of dying. These can help to identify a patient who may benefit from more aggressive management. The author is from LSU Medical Center in New Orleans.
Warning signs:
(1) previous or recurrent episodes of status asthmaticus
(4) poor response to bronchodilator therapy, with change in FEV1 < 400 mL or change in PEFR < 60 mL per minute (3.6 L per hour) at 1 hour after therapy
(5) altered level of consciousness
(6) hypoxemias (PaO2 < 50 mm Hg) with central cyanosis
(7) hypercapnia with PaCO2 > 45 mm Hg
(8) pulsus paraodoxicus
(9) ECG abnormalities
(10) occurrence of pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum
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