Management of acute asthma in adults in the emergency department: nonventilatory management

Abstract

Acute asthma is a common medical emergency, which, despite repeated review 1^–6 and the publication of international 7 and national 8 guidelines, including the Canadian Asthma Consensus Guidelines, 9^–11 often remains poorly managed. 12^–20 Although there are some signs that evidence-based management of this disorder is improving, 17^,21^–23 a recent survey of the management of asthma in children and adults in the emergency department revealed wide variations in care and substantial gaps in management in certain key areas. 19 These included poor adherence to published guidelines on the management of asthma, infrequent measurement of peak expiratory flow, infrequent use of systemic corticosteroids and poor rates of referral to asthma educational services.