Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Case 2

You are working in the ED when a pre-alert is received from the local ambulance service. A 78-year-old male has been found by his carer at home with breathlessness and confusion. He is known to suffer with COPD. His oxygen saturations on arrival of the paramedics were 70% on air.

You go to resus to await the patient’s arrival.

You suspect this man might have an infectious exacerbation of COPD. Name three other differential diagnoses apart from COPD for this presentation.

Please choose 8 appropriate steps in the immediate ED management from the following list.

Which of the following are contraindications to NIV?

Select one or more options.