The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of death in North America and the only chronic disorder with a rising prevalence. Therefore, acute exacerbations of COPD continue to be an important and increasing cause of morbidity and mortality. This article reviews the pathophysiology, common sources, treatment, and prognosis of acute exacerbations of COPD and focuses primarily on the management of noncritically ill inpatients. Recent evidence from randomized controlled trials now exists to support the use of corticosteriods and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation. These data are presented along with discussions of other common therapeutic interventions.