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Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Prevalence
Clinical features
Differential Diagnosis
Investigations
Therapy
Prevention
Prognosis
Investigations
  • blood count d
  • urea and electrolytes, creatinine d
  • cardiac enzymes d
  • blood culture if strong clinical suspicion of infection d
  • serum theophylline levels d if on a methylxanthine
  • sputum culture if strong clinical suspicion of infection d
  • arterial blood gases b  
  • ECG - look for evidence of right heart failure or ischaemic heart disease a  
  • chest X-ray c  in all patients a  
  • peak-expiratory flow-rate a b c
  • spirometry when recovered a

 

Expiry date: July 2003
Levels of Evidence used in grading these guides

Author   CM   Ball
Reviewer   N R   Anthonisen
CAT Writers   B   Phillips , CJ   Wotton , CM   Ball