How would you manage an acute exacerbation of COPD?
• ABCDE approach - Close monitoring, IV access, bloods - Early Chest X-Ray (CXR) and Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) • Oxygen - Titration to maintain saturation (88-92%) - Monitoring of Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) to confirm no retention of CO2 • Bronchodilators - Nebulization of Salbutamol 5 mg - Ipratromium 0.5 mg • Prednisolone 30 mg - 1-2 weeks • Antibiotics - In case of consolidation on chest x-ray (CXR) treat as pneumonia - Empirical treatment includes tetracycline, macrolide or aminopenicillin • IV Thephylline - In case of no response to bronchodilator therapy