Protocolo de manejo de exacerbação da DPOC no setor de Urgência e Emergência HC-UFU

Abstract

Acute exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are a frequent cause of emergency department visits and are associated with high morbidity, mortality, and risk of hospital readmission. Variability in patient management and incomplete adherence to international guidelines highlight the need for standardized care.

This study proposes the development of an institutional protocol for the management of COPD exacerbations in the Emergency Department of the Hospital de Clínicas of the Federal University of Uberlândia, based on the GOLD 2025 report and a recent literature review. The protocol includes diagnostic criteria, severity classification according to the Rome Proposal, recommended diagnostic tests, pharmacological treatment, ventilatory support strategies, hospitalization and discharge criteria, and a standardized discharge letter model.

Implementation of this protocol aims to reduce clinical variability, improve patient outcomes, and strengthen evidence-based practice in a tertiary teaching hospital.