It is difficult to match an asthma patient’s hyperventilation, and lower tidal volumes should be used to avoid barotrauma in the setting of hyperinflation. Finally, intravenous ketamine at doses starting at 2 mg/kg, is gaining favor as an adjunctive bronchodilator, especially for agitated patients in respiratory distress [8]. References

The EMS1 Academy features “Capnography for BLS: Getting Started with Capnography,” a one-hour accredited course designed to introduce the benefits of capnography, present a basic understanding of the capnogram, and how to use it to explore the physiology of the respiratory cycle. Visit the EMS1 Academy to learn more and schedule a demo. These pathophysiologic changes cause distal alveoli to trap air and become hyperinflated. As the amount of hyperinflated lung tissue expands, the child’s diaphragm is progressively flattened, causing a mechanical disruption of ventilation. Increased workload for ventilation is transferred onto smaller and weaker intercostal and suprasternal muscles, leading to rapid fatigue and onset of respiratory failure.

CapnoAcademy Newsletter

First-line treatment of an asthma patient with any degree of respiratory distress should be albuterol. It relaxes bronchial smooth muscle and enhances mucous clearance. Ideally, albuterol is administered as a nebulized solution (2.5 mg per dose for patients less than 10 kg, and 5 mg per dose for patients greater than 10 kg). Common side effects include tachycardia and tremors. Rarely, children may experience arrhythmias, such as supraventricular tachycardia. Nassif A, Ostermayer DG, Hoang KB, Claiborne MK, Camp EA, Shah MI. Implementation of a Prehospital Protocol Change For Asthmatic Children. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2018 Jul-Aug;22(4):457-465. Joey Wahler (Host): Interesting. How about weather conditions, doctor? What impact might living in a warmer climate have on an asthmatic patient? Prior ED visits or hospitalizations for asthma (including intensive care unit admissions and/or intubations) Dr Michael Marcus: Only that children are a bit less cooperative sometimes. They’re not always able to take the inhaled medications with the right technique and they need that supervision and guidance. The flip side though is that since parents really do control children’s lives and we tend to care for our children better than we care for ourselves, children are more likely to use their medication properly once the parent understands the need for the medication.

The child with status asthmaticus presents with air hunger. Because of the profound bronchoconstriction and minimal airflow through the bronchioles, wheezing is either faint or completely absent. Oxygen saturation levels often reflect severe hypoxia, with readings well below 90%. As hypoxemia worsens, the workload on the ventricles of the heart increases, and the child becomes profoundly acidotic from associated hypercarbia. Pediatric asthma interventions and management Dr Michael Marcus: It’s a common question that I get and weather conditions by themselves really don’t affect asthma other than cold, dry air being a significant trigger for wheezing in patients with asthma. The thing about weather conditions and the thing about moving to different climates is much more related to the things that grow. And so, if you’re in the northeast, you have a certain type of pollen from the grass and the trees and the weeds that are common. If you move to someplace like Arizona, which is more hot and dry, the foliage and pollen in that area is very different. And so, if you hadn’t been exposed to that yet, you won’t have allergies to those things yet. But if you continue in those environments for a long period of time, eventually you develop allergies to those things and eventually the asthma symptoms return.Our guest from Maimonides is Dr. Michael Marcus, Director of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine and Allergy Immunology and Vice Chair of the Pediatric Ambulatory Network. Dr. Marcus, thanks for joining us. Dr Michael Marcus: It’s interesting, but roaches and mice both produce a potent protein that can trigger the same type of inflammatory reaction that leads to the symptoms of asthma. And so early and high concentration of exposure to those things will give a child greater symptoms of their asthma conditions.

Learn how to assess, monitor and manage pediatric asthma emergencies, as well as underlying pathophysiologic changes EMS professionals need to keep in mind that a child’s lower airway anatomy is proportionally smaller than an adult’s, and is easily compromised from a lesser degree of swelling and constriction. In response to one of the events mentioned earlier, a series of reactions occur in the lower airway. Secondly, mucous glands and cells that line the lower airway are stimulated to secrete excessive mucous, which plugs the bronchioles. Intravenous magnesium has been noted to produce good bronchodilation effects with pediatric patients in status asthmaticus. It is dosed at 50 mg/kg. Common side effects include skin flushing and hypotension, which is rarely clinically significant and responds well to fluid administration. Mechanical ventilation may be necessary in rare cases. Non-invasive ventilation with bi-level positive airway pressure can help stave off intubation and preserves the conscious patient’s respiratory drive. Intubation and mechanical ventilation are the last resort for patients with refractory respiratory failure and/or respiratory arrest.

Have a Capnography Story?

First, the smooth muscle surrounding the bronchioles is stimulated by histamine and leukotriene, causing bronchoconstriction.