Round 14 (Shortness of Breath)

CAUTION: THESE NOTES CONTAIN SPOILERS!!!



Case Introduction



You are sitting at your computer on an otherwise quiet night when a young male is brought into your ED in obvious respiratory distress.



Initial Vitals



* Temp 98.6* HR 99* RR 34* BP 105/69* O2 95%



Critical Actions



* Give Albuterol + Ipratropium + Steroids* Obtain Chest Xray* Give Magnesium* Place patient on BiPAP* Give IV Beta Agonist (Epinephrine)



Final Diagnosis



Status Asthmaticus



Tips and Tricks



Frequently perform verbal reassessments on patients with the examiner (vitals, patient appearance, pain, etc)



Additional Reading



* The Crashing Asthmatic (REBEL EM)