Emergency Care Institute – Clinical tools

Respiratory

Published: May 2026. Printed on 12 Aug 2026.

Asthma

Care of an adult with acute asthma in the emergency department.

COPD

Assessing and managing acute COPD exacerbations, including diagnosis, treatment, and admission criteria.

Massive haemoptysis

Life threatening airway haemorrhage. What to do in the ED, common aetiologies, investigations and management.

Pleural effusion

Collections of fluid between the parietal and visceral pleura caused by a disruption of the homeostatic forces that control normal flow.

Pulmonary embolism

Evaluation pathway for pulmonary embolism, stability assessment, treatment criteria, including for pregnancy.

Spontaneous pneumothorax

Pneumothorax occurring when there is no known underlying pathology, and no precipitant such as trauma or surgery.

As part of our review process, we have replaced this clinical tool with high-quality content from a trusted source. The information should not replace a clinician's professional judgement.

Care of adult patients in acute care facilities with a tracheostomy: Clinical practice guide
Source: Intensive Care NSW

Pneumonia – NSW Health login required
Source: Therapeutic Guidelines

Accessed from the Emergency Care Institute website at https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/networks/eci/clinical/tools/respiratory