Q, what medication the nurse expects to see ordered for
patient with COPD exacerbation? And
why?
ANS, Medications
- Bronchodilators - Inhaled bronchodilators are effective for
initial treatment of exacerbation , they work by dilating airways,
thereby decresing airflow resistance.this increses airflow and
decreses dynamic hyperinflation.
- Corticosteroids - it reduce inflommation,so they can help to
reduce the amound of swelling in the airways and make breathing
easier.
- Other drugs( EG, Alpha1, Antitrypsin augmentation therapy)-
alpha1 antitrypsin is a glycoprotein which is largely produced in
the liver. It is a serine proteaseinhibitor. its main function is
to balance the action of neutrophil elastase produced by
neutrophils in the presence of inflammation, infection or
smoking.
- Mucolytic agents - They are helpful if patient have a long term
cough because they help patient cough up mucus from lungs.
- Vasodilators - treating pulmonary hypertension in copd by
active vasoconstriction and some systemic vasodilators exert this
effect on pulmonary circulation thereby resulting in reducing
pulmonary artery pressure.
- Narcotics - Treat chronic muscle bone pain , insomnia,
persistent cough and shortness of breath
- Oxygen therapy - long term oxygen therapy is used for copd[ if
patient have hypoxia].it is used to prevent right side heart
failure
Q-why is there a preference of IV therapy instead of
oral, especially for corticosteriods?
ANS- IV therapy produces a faster effect than
oral administration. corticosteroids reduce inflommation,so they
can help to reduce the amount of swelling in the airway and make
breathing easier.