COPD and PE

Hey team:

We admit many cases of AECOPD on GIM, and many of our patients presenting with exacerbations are elderly.  Check this excellent article from JAMA on the care of older patients with COPD. Advance care planning in partnership with the patient and their family is key!

In patients where the etiology of the exacerbation is unclear, looking for PE is very important, as high as 25% of all presentations.  Decision making as to when and how to investigate is complex - many comorbidities are usually present.
 Here is an article discussing different investigations, and a useful decision tree (midway down the page).