Outcome evaluation of early discharge after hospitalization for asthma.
OBJECTIVE
This review is designed to assess the evidence around the criteria used to decide when it is appropriate for an individual with asthma to be discharged from hospital.


RESULTS
There has been scanty recent published research on this subject, and no strong evidence-based discharge guidelines exist. The limited data available suggest that clinical outcome in children is similar when the timing of discharge is the need for 3-hourly rather than 4 hourly bronchodilator. In children, the adoption of this policy would shorten the average length of hospital stay by 5-6 h.


CONCLUSIONS
The available data for adults with acute asthma on the appropriate end points for discharge from hospital are inadequate to provide firm conclusions. Children with acute asthma should be considered ready for discharge when clinically stable on 3-hourly bronchodilator.
Henry
Richard L
RL
Office of the Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. r.henry@unsw.edu.au