10
Treatment
Figure 2. Inpatient Management of Acute Severe Dyspnea
Routine dyspnea screening
in inpatient setting
(daily)
Acute complications
Further assessment
Cancer
Co-morbidities
Specialist palliative care
referral if available
Airflow/fan
Non-pharmacologic
measures
Pharmacologic measures
Self management strategies
Breathing techniques
Breathing postures
Physical therapy
Acupressure/reflexology
Bronchodilators
if bronchospasm
Corticosteroids
if structural causes
Benzodiazepines
if severe anxiety
Opioids
(typically parenteral route for
treatment of acute dyspnea)
Treatment of
underlying cause(s)
Supplemental O
2
if hypoxemic
In descending order of preference:
Concurrent
management
In descending order of preference:
Basic Measures
