[Prescription of asthma action plans in the Aquitaine region of France]. / Évaluation de la prescription des plans d'actions d'asthme par les médecins d'Aquitaine.

INTRODUCTION: Although guidelines recommend the prescription of written asthma action plans (WAAP), their use remains limited. METHODS: A prospective survey was performed from 2013 to 2014. We interviewed respiratory physicians, paediatric respiratory physicians and allergologists taking care of asthmatic patients and practicing in the Aquitaine region of France, using computerized questionnaires, regarding their everyday practice in the use of WAAP. RESULTS: A total of 59/143 (41%) clinicians, with a mean age of 47 years, participated in the study. A total of 41/59 (69.5%) were using a WAAP (12 different models with very inhomogeneous contents, mostly targeting symptoms only). WAAP prescribers were younger than non-prescribers, were more often female, working mostly in the Gironde area, with mixed hospital and private-based activity, and were paediatric-respiratory physicians or respiratory physicians. The severity of asthma had little influence on WAAP prescriptions. CONCLUSION: In the Aquitaine region, prescription of WAAPs remains inadequate and shows large disparities. WAAP users are mostly younger female specialists.

[Pitfalls in hemoglobin oxygen saturation measurement: a case of chronic desaturation]. / Pièges de la mesure de la saturation de l'hémoglobine en oxygène : à propos d'un cas de désaturation chronique.

The measurement of oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry (SpO2) is simple and fast. This non-invasive and widespread technique gives an indication of the oxygen level in arterial blood. While the method is reliable, there are limitations that can compromise the diagnostic procedure. The objective of the present paper is to list these limitations and discuss the precautions to be taken to optimize the interpretation of the results. Based on the case of a 3-year-old patient who presented with chronic hemoglobin oxygen desaturation, we discuss a decision-making algorithm in order to avoid unnecessary, expensive, and stressful investigations.