Treatment of respiratory distress

Respiratory distress is a medical emergency that requires pre-hospital care by the SAMU, and depending on the patients condition, may lead to hospitalization in intensive care. Among the most frequent causes: acute COPD decompensation, severe acute asthma, pneumothorax, neuromuscular diseases and thoracic trauma.In children, foreign bodies are the most frequent cause of respiratory distress.Diagnosis of respiratory distress is based on clinical findings and gasometric abnormalities (hypoxemia, hypercapnia).Oxygenation using a mask or mask scope is the first line of treatment.All intra- or extra-hospital transport must be assisted by the SAMU.