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Patients presenting with respiratory complaints represent a significant volume of emergency department visits. The majority of these patients present with complications of obstructive lung disease, infectious etiologies, or complications of neoplastic processes. The remaining pulmonary disorders important to the emergency department physician include the interstitial lung diseases, neuromuscular diseases, and diseases of the spine and chest wall. The frequency of these conditions is often underappreciated. The incidence of interstitial lung disease contributes to 100,000 hospital admissions yearly. Respiratory complications secondary to spinal injury and neuromuscular disease frequently affect individuals in the prime of life. The acute management of these patients relies on understanding the underlying disease process and the potential complications associated with it. Copyright © 2000 by Aspen Publishers, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...