Pharmacology Simulation Scenario: Respiratory Failure Due to Asthma Exacerbation

Abstract

OPEN ACCESSFebruary 23, 2010Pharmacology Simulation Scenario: Respiratory Failure Due to Asthma Exacerbation Jimmy Beck, Christie Romo, MD, Kent Denmark, MD Jimmy Beck Loma Linda University School of Medicine Google Scholar More articles by this author , Christie Romo, MD Loma Linda School of Medicine Google Scholar More articles by this author , Kent Denmark, MD Loma Linda School of Medicine Google Scholar More articles by this author https://doi.org/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.7965 SectionsAbout ToolsDownload Citations ShareFacebookTwitterEmail AbstractAbstractThis resource is a manikin-based simulation case involving a 22-year-old male who presents to an emergency room with progressive shortness of breath due to an asthma exacerbation. The patient develops respiratory failure requiring intubation during the initial emergency room treatment. This resource is one of three respiratory simulation cases developed as part of a second-year medical school pharmacology curriculum. These cases were developed to help medical students integrate basic science principles taught in traditional lectures with real-life clinical scenarios. In this scenario, the learner needs to rapidly assess a patient with an acute asthma exacerbation, describe the mechanism of action of various pharmacologic agents used in the treatment of status asthmaticus, and then determine the most likely physiologic responses after the administration of select medications. Finally, the learner must proceed to intubation of this patient after pharmacologic therapy fails. This simulation scenario has been used by approximately 180 second-year medical students. The feedback we have received has been very favorable, with many of the students requesting that we incorporate more simulation exercises into the basic science curriculum. Educational Objectives By the end of this simulation, learners should be able to: Develop a plausible differential diagnosis from the history and physical examination findings for the scenario and explain how each diagnosis in the differential is consistent with the findings.Identify and discuss the pathophysiologic mechanisms that are most likely responsible for the patient-simulator's findings.Choose a treatment plan that utilizes medications and/or intravenous fluids to resolve the patient-simulator's condition.Determine what the most likely physiologic responses will be after the administration of select medications to the patient simulator. Sign up for the latest publications from MedEdPORTAL Add your email below FILES INCLUDEDReferencesRelatedDetails FILES INCLUDED Included in this publication: Asthma Intubation Case.pdf To view all publication components, extract (i.e., unzip) them from the downloaded .zip file. Download editor’s noteThis publication may contain technology or a display format that is no longer in use. Copyright & Permissions© 2010 Beck et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivatives license.KeywordsAsthmaRespiratory FailureIntubationPhysical Diagnosis Evaluation PathophysiologyRapid Sequence InductionBag Mask VentilationOxygen Consumption Disclosures None to report. Funding/Support None to report. Loading ...