[Diagnosis and treatment of respiratory emergencies].
The following six points should be kept in mind for the management of respiratory emergencies in the emergency room. 1 Gram's stain of a sputum smear may reduce the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. 2 Routine use of a portable pulse oxymeter substantially reduce the number of arterial blood gas tests. 3 In critical illnesses, such as tension pneumothorax, diagnosis should be made and treatment should be begun without a chest X-ray film. 4 Bag-valve-mask systems should be used with a reservoir bag or a gas pocket to increase the concentration of oxygen. 5 To help prevent hypoxemia during endotracheal intubation, pulse oxymetry may be useful. 6 Ambulance personnel should be taught the importance of pre-hospital administration of high concentrations of oxygen to patients with acute respiratory failure, especially severe asthmatic attacks.
Terasawa
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Emergency Department, Fukui Prefectural Hospital, Japan.
D000208:Acute Disease; D004630:Emergencies; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D010092:Oximetry; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology