CRACKCast E169 – Pediatric Respiratory Emergencies: Lower Airway Obstruction

CRACKCast & Physicians as Humans on CanadiEM

Core questions:

• Excluding asthma, list 8 causes of wheeze

• Outline the pathophysiology of asthma.

• What are the features of mild, moderate and severe asthma?

• Describe the PRAM score

• List 8 medications for asthma treatment with doses

• What is the typical ED management for a pts with an asthma exacerbation?

• Describe adjunctive therapies that might be used in a patient with refractory symptoms.

• How are PO corticosteroids used in the management of asthma?

• When should children be started on inhaled corticosteroids?

• Outline a plan for disposition of a pt presenting to the ED with an acute asthma exacerbation.

• What are risk factors for sudden death in a patient with asthma?

• List risk factors for bronchiolitis.

• What are the typical pathogens of bronchiolitis?

• What is the pathophysiology of bronchiolitis?

• How is bronchiolitis managed?

• Which children with bronchiolitis should be admitted to hospital?

• List potential complications of RSV.

Wisecracks:

• What’s the natural history of infants/toddlers who wheeze?

• What is a peak flow? What is the FEV1? What are the advantages to measuring peak flow? What are the disadvantages?

• Risk factors for death in bronchiolitis