title: [Treatment of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
abstract: Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are an important cause of both morbidity and mortality. Both infection of the tracheobronchial tree and air pollution are common causes of exacerbations. The guidelines comment that inhaled bronchodilators, theophyllines, systemic glucocorticoids, antibiotics (the latter if clinical signs of airways infection are present) are effective treatments for exacerbations of COPD. In severe exacerbations, non-invasive positive pressure ventilation is a useful adjunct to other medical therapy and improves blood gases and pH, reduces hospital-mortality, decreases the requirements for invasive mechanical ventilation and intubation and decreases the stay in hospital.
authors.forename: Domenico Lorenzo
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Urso
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luchetti
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013806:Theophylline / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D013806:Theophylline