BMJ  2006;333:87-89 (8 July), doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7558.87

Practice

ABC of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Acute exacerbations

Graeme P Currie, specialist registrar

Respiratory Unit, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen.

Jadwiga A Wedzicha, professor

Academic Unit of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Free and University College Medical School, University College London, London.

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

An exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a sustained worsening of respiratory symptoms that is acute in onset and usually requires a patient to seek medical help or alter treatment. The deterioration must be more severe than the usual daily variation experienced. Exacerbations are characterised by increased breathlessness, cough, sputum volume or purulence, wheeze, and chest tightness. Other common features are malaise, reduced exercise tolerance, peripheral oedema, accessory muscle use, confusion, and cyanosis. Other (often coexisting) cardiorespiratory disorders can also cause these symptoms, which may lead to diagnostic uncertainty.


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  		Nebulised bronchodilators are often given during an exacerbation of COPD

 

Exacerbations of COPD account for up to 10% of all medical admissions to UK hospitals, equating to more than 100 000 admissions a year, with a mean length of stay of over a week. Exacerbations therefore have considerable costs for secondary care and are partly responsible for high occupancy . . . [Full text of this article]


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This article has been cited by other articles:

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  • Sridhar, M, Taylor, R, Dawson, S, Roberts, N J, Partridge, M R (2008). A nurse led intermediate care package in patients who have been hospitalised with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Thorax 63: 194-200 [Abstract] [Full text]  
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