Hello,  
Recently it seems like auditors are calling to question why we are not administering Dexamethasone when administering ventolin. The patients that are in all have clear signs of great improvement after 1 dose of ventolin. The way the companion document reads and during training, it seems like if patients symptoms resolve after one dose of ventolin, then we should not continue with the Dexamethasone. Is this the wrong interpretation?  

Salbutamol (Ventolin) response does not affect dexamethasone administration in the Bronchoconstriction Medical Directive. 

 Dexamethasone is a different type of medication in that its effects are not seen immediately. In general, you won’t see it’s effects for the first 1-2 hours. It is used to help reduce the need for hospitalization. The anti-inflammatory properties of dexamethasone can help patients for whose symptoms return after the initial symptom relief medication (including salbutamol) wears off. 

The companion document reads that dexamethasone “may be administered in conjunction with other treatments” and highlights that the symptom relief medication should be given first. However, it is not meant to be interpreted that if the patient responds to symptom relief medications that dexamethasone does not need to be administered. 

Airway/Breathing,Bronchoconstriction

Bronchoconstriction, Companion Document, Dexamethasone, salbutamol, Symptom relief

OBHG ALS PCS 5.4 Companion Document