The Burden of COPD
Emergency Medicine. 2016 November;48(11):496-504 | DOI: 10.12788/emed.2016.0066
November 8, 2016|Emergency Medicine
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Patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease typically experience acute exacerbations and often require emergent care. However, when they begin to experience end-stage disease, many do not receive the home-based palliative care support they need.
Management of AECOPD in the ED must include rapid treatment of dyspnea and pain, but also a determination of treatment preferences and an understanding of the prognosis. Several criteria are available to guide prognostic awareness and may help further the goals of care and disposition. Primary palliative care should be started by the ED provider for appropriate patients, with early referral to the palliative care team.
