This page provides some short guidance when considering where to admit patients with asthma exacerbation, it is primarily aimed at the Weekday Professional Line to support with decision making in hours.
When deciding between SDEC or AMU admission for asthma exacerbations, go back to basics:
- Always assess pre-treatment:
Record clinical exam, observations, and peak flow before any oxygen, nebulisers, or inhalers are given. - Admit according to what the patient's obs were before any treatment was given in primary care.
- Be cautious with patients whose obs appear SDEC-appropriate but have:
- History of rapid deterioration (now or previously)
- Previous ICU admissions or frequent hospitalisations
- Any concern from the referring clinician
➡️ When in doubt, admit to the ward (ED for UHBW) over SDEC
We’ll support conservative decisions if you're uncertain — safety of the patient comes first.