[Follow-up criteria for community acquired pneumonias and acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
The follow-up of Community Acquired Pneumonias (CAP) and Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (AECOPD) differs with the setting of care, but overall calls upon the same investigations as the initial evaluations. In the event of initial ambulatory care, the evaluation is carried out primarily on clinical data, at the 2 or 3rd day for the CAP, at the 2nd to 5th day for the AECOPD. In the event of unfavourable evolution, or from the start in the most severe cases, the follow-up is carried out in hospital; clinical evaluation is readily daily, and all the more frequent that the clinical condition is worrying because of the severity or risk factors. The investigations will be limited to those initially abnormal in the event of favourable evolution; on the contrary, unfavourable evolution can justify new investigations which depend on clinical characteristics. Remotely, i.e. 4 to 8 weeks later, must be checked the return at the baseline clinical state, a chest X-ray (CAP), spirometry and arterial blood gas (AECOPD), even bronchoscopy and thoracic CT-scan.
Huchon
G
G
Service de pneumologie et réanimation, université de Paris-Descartes, hôpital de l'Hôtel-Dieu, 1, place du Parvis-de-Notre-Dame, 75004 Paris, France. gerard.huchon@htd.aphp.fr
D000208:Acute Disease; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome