Critical care in the ED: potentially fatal asthma and acute lung injury syndrome

itical care in the ED: potentially fatal asthma and acute lung injury syndrome Review (1830) Total Article Views Authors: Hodder R Published Date August 2012 Volume 2012:4 Pages 53 - 68 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/OAEM.S30998 Received: 18 February 2012 Accepted: 06 March 2012 Published: 31 August 2012 Rick Hodder* Divisions of Pulmonary and Critical Care, University of Ottawa and The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Canada, *Dr Rick Hodder passed away on Tuesday April 17,2012. Please see the Dedication for more information on Dr Hodder. Abstract: Emergency department clinicians are frequently called upon to assess, diagnose, and stabilize patients who present with acute respiratory failure. This review describes a rapid initial approach to acute respiratory failure in adults, illustrated by two common examples: (1) an airway disease – acute potentially fatal asthma, and (2) a pulmonary parenchymal disease – acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome. As such patients are usually admitted to hospital, discussion will be focused on those initial management aspects most relevant to the emergency department clinician.