The recommended management of stable disease is according to NICE 2010. It should be remembered that the management of COPD is both pharmacological and non-pharmacological. It is increasingly clear that focusing on the patient’s activity, nutrition and lifestyle is as important as prescribing bronchodilators. The clinical/treatment stages are in the most part independent of FEV1 and based on patient symptoms. Oxygen therapy is still the only treatment modality shown to reduce mortality in this population, so pulse oximetry must be performed at each and every visit. Please remember to maintain immunity with the yearly influenza vaccination, and the once only pneumococcal vaccine in all COPD patients.
In this section we will discuss NICE 2010, individual inhaled treatments, oxygen therapy, nebulisers and other treatments.
Instructional Videos |
