ANNEXES

Annex 4
Management of acute severe asthma in adults in hospital
IMMEDIATE TREATMENT
Features of acute severe asthma
ƒ Oxygen to maintain SpO2 94-98%
ƒ Peak expiratory flow (PEF) 33-50% of ƒ Salbutamol 5 mg or terbutaline 10 mg via an oxygen-driven nebuliser
best (use % predicted if recent best ƒ Ipratropium bromide 0.5 mg via an oxygen-driven nebuliser
unknown) ƒ Prednisolone tablets 40-50 mg or IV hydrocortisone 100 mg
ƒ Can’t complete sentences in one breath ƒ No sedatives of any kind
ƒ Respirations ≥25 breaths/min ƒ Chest X ray if pneumothorax or consolidation are suspected or patient
ƒ Pulse ≥110 beats/min requires mechanical ventilation

Life threatening features IF LIFE THREATENING FEATURES ARE PRESENT:

ƒ Discuss with senior clinician and ICU team
ƒ PEF <33% of best or predicted ƒ Consider IV magnesium sulphate 1.2-2 g infusion over 20 minutes (unless already
ƒ SpO2 <92% given)
ƒ Silent chest, cyanosis, or feeble ƒ Give nebulised β2 agonist more frequently e.g. salbutamol 5 mg up to every 15-30
respiratory effort minutes or 10 mg per hour via continuous nebulisation (requires special nebuliser)
ƒ Arrhythmia or hypotension
ƒ Exhaustion, altered consciousness
SUBSEQUENT MANAGEMENT
If a patient has any life threatening feature, IF PATIENT IS IMPROVING continue:
measure arterial blood gases. No other ƒ Oxygen to maintain SpO2 94-98%
investigations are needed for immediate ƒ Prednisolone 40-50mg daily or IV hydrocortisone 100 mg 6 hourly
management. ƒ Nebulised β2 agonist and ipratropium 4-6 hourly

Blood gas markers of a life threatening IF PATIENT NOT IMPROVING AFTER 15-30 MINUTES:
attack: ƒ Continue oxygen and steroids
ƒ ‘Normal’ (4.6-6 kPa, 35-45 mmHg) ƒ Use continuous nebulisation of salbutamol at 5-10 mg/hour if an appropriate
PaCO2 nebuliser is available. Otherwise give nebulised salbutamol 5 mg every 15-30
ƒ Severe hypoxia: PaO2 <8 kPa minutes
(60mmHg) irrespective of treatment with ƒ Continue ipratropium 0.5 mg 4-6 hourly until patient is improving
oxygen
ƒ A low pH (or high H+) IF PATIENT IS STILL NOT IMPROVING:
ƒ Discuss patient with senior clinician and ICU team
Caution: Patients with severe or life ƒ Consider IV magnesium sulphate 1.2-2 g over 20 minutes (unless already given)
threatening attacks may not be distressed ƒ Senior clinician may consider use of IV β2 agonist or IV aminophylline or
and may not have all these abnormalities. progression to mechanical ventilation
The presence of any should alert the doctor.

Near fatal asthma MONITORING

ƒ Raised PaCO2
ƒ Requiring mechanical ventilation with ƒ Repeat measurement of PEF 15-30 minutes after starting treatment
raised inflation pressures ƒ Oximetry: maintain SpO2 >94-98%
ƒ Repeat blood gas measurements within 1 hour of starting treatment if:
- initial PaO2 <8 kPa (60 mmHg) unless subsequent SpO2 >92%
Peak Expiratory Flow Rate - Normal Values - PaCO2 normal or raised
- patient deteriorates
680
ƒ Chart PEF before and after giving β2 agonists and at least 4 times daily throughout
hospital stay
660

640

620

600 Transfer to ICU accompanied by a doctor prepared to intubate if:

580 ƒ Deteriorating PEF, worsening or persisting hypoxia, or hypercapnea
560
ƒ Exhaustion, altered consciousness
540
ƒ Poor respiratory effort or respiratory arrest
PEF (l/min) EU Scale

520

500

480 Height

460
Men
190 cm (75 in) DISCHARGE
440
183 cm (72 in)
175 cm (69 in)
420 167 cm (66 in)
160 cm (63 in)
When discharged from hospital, patients should have:
400
ƒ Been on discharge medication for 12-24 hours and have had inhaler technique
380

360
checked and recorded
Height
340 Women ƒ PEF >75% of best or predicted and PEF diurnal variability<25% unless discharge is
183 cm (72 in)
320 175 cm (69 in)
167 cm (66 in)
agreed with respiratory physician
300
15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80
160 cm (63 in)
85 152 cm (60 in)
ƒ Treatment with oral and inhaled steroids in addition to bronchodilators
Age (years) ƒ Own PEF meter and written asthma action plan
Adapted by Clement Clarke for use with EN13826 / EU scale peak flow meters
from Nunn AJ Gregg I, Br Med J 1989:298;1068-70
ƒ GP follow up arranged within 2 working days
ƒ Follow up appointment in respiratory clinic within 4 weeks

Patients with severe asthma (indicated by need for admission) and adverse behavioural
or psychosocial features are at risk of further severe or fatal attacks
ƒ Determine reason(s) for exacerbation and admission
ƒ Send details of admission, discharge and potential best PEF to GP

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