8
Treatment
Figure 1. Outpatient Management of Chronic Dyspnea
Routine dyspnea screening
in outpatient setting
(every visit)
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
Corticosteroids
if structural causes
Bronchodilators
if bronchospasm
Benzodiazepines
if severe anxiety
Opioids
(typically oral for everyday
dyspnea or prophylaxis of
exertional dyspnea)
Treatment of
underlying cause(s)
Supplemental O
2
if hypoxemic
In descending order of preference:
Stepwise
management
In descending order of preference:
Basic Measures
