Disnea aguda
- Barbero, E. 1
- Guerassimova, I. 1
- Díaz Lobato, S. 1
- 1 Servicio de Neumología. Hospital Ramón y Cajal (IRYCIS). Madrid. España
ISSN: 0304-5412
Year of publication: 2019
Issue Title: Medicina de urgencias (II)Urgencias respiratorias
Series: 12
Issue: 88
Pages: 5147-5154
Type: Article
More publications in: Medicine: Programa de Formación Médica Continuada Acreditado
Abstract
Acute dyspnea Dyspnea is a term used to characterize a subjective experience of breathing discomfort. According with its etiology it is classified in: respiratory and cardiovascular dyspnea. Both types require deeply clinical examination. Severity has to be assessed in first place, identifying warning signs and symptoms. Then, oxygen therapy would be evaluated using pulse oximetry or arterial blood gas. Once patient stability is guaranteed, detailed clinical history and complete physical examination have to be carried out. Afterwards, complementary tests must be requested in order to clarify the causes. Facing an acute dyspnea, the most common causes have to be taking into account; in case of respiratory dyspnea these are: pneumonia, COPD exacerbation, asthmatic exacerbation, pulmonary thromboembolism, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, alveolar hemorrhage, presence of a foreign body or exacerbation of diffuse interstitial disease. If cardiovascular dyspnea is suspected, it might be secondary to heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, arrhythmia or cardiac tamponade. Other causes of dyspnea may be related with upper airway disease produced by angioedema, anaphylaxis or cervical infection, or be secondary to neuromuscular diseases, obesity or anxiety.
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