Emergency department management of pediatric asthma at a university teaching hospital

Asthma is a major health problem and the most frequent cause of chronic illness and emergency department (ED) visits in children. Limited data examining the ED management of pediatric asthma within university teaching hospitals across the US exist.

To compare the ED management of children (aged 1-17 y) with asthma at a university teaching hospital using National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines.

All cases of pediatric asthma that presented to the University of California, San Francisco, Medical Center ED between October 1, 2003, and October 31, 2004, were included. Patients who required hospital admission were excluded. Data pertaining to patient demographics, primary diagnosis, pharmacologic management, diagnostic tests performed, and follow-up plans were abstracted and compared with NAEPP guidelines issued in 1997 and updated topics released in 2002.

A total of 141 cases were identified. Mean patient age was 5.8 years. Most (61.7%) patients were male and of African American ethnicity (31.9%). Asthma severity was typically mild (66.7%) or moderate (29.1%). In persons at least 6 years of age (n = 58), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was performed in 25.9% of cases. Pulse oximetry, however, was always performed. Based on NAEPP guidelines, beta-agonists and corticosteroids should have been used, but were not, in 2.8% and 31.9% of cases, respectively. At discharge, no corticosteroid prescription was given in 40.4% of the cases, no written action plan was prepared in 80.1% of the cases, no formal device training was administered in 67.3% of cases, and no peak flow meter was provided for persons at least 6 years of age in 50.0% of cases.

NAEPP guidelines were met in all patients regarding pulse oximetry and in most patients with respect to the use of beta-agonists. Improvements could be made, however, in the use of corticosteroids in the ED; in performing PEFR measurements for persons at least 6 years of age upon arrival; and in providing formal device training, a written action plan, prescriptions for steroids, and peak flow meters at discharge.