Treatment of respiratory distress

Respiratory distress is a medical emergency that requires pre-hospital care by the SAMU and depending on the patient's 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.