Status asthmaticus: an analysis of 560 episodes and comparison between mechanical and non-mechanical ventilation groups

• Published in: Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand Vol. 73; no. 9; p. 495
• Main Authors: Limthongkul, S, Wongthim, S, Udompanich, V, Charoenlap, P, Nuchprayoon, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thailand 01-09-1990
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Respiration, Artificial; Status Asthmaticus - physiopathology; Status Asthmaticus - therapy
• ISSN: 0125-2208

An analysis and comparison of 286 adult patients involving 560 episodes of status asthmaticus admitted to the Medical Service of Chulalongkorn Hospital during the years 1984 through 1988 were examined. There were 58 patients who required mechanical ventilation 75 times compared with 228 patients with 485 episodes of attack who did not require the use of mechanical ventilation. The increased risk factors for status asthmaticus among those who required assisted ventilation were as follows: younger age at onset of asthma, younger age of severe attack, chronic asthma (especially unstable asthma), previous history of intubation and mechanical ventilation, shorter duration of severe attack and extremely severe attack in the sitting position before arriving at the emergency room, receiving beta 2 adrenergic inhaler, mistakenly taking beta blockers, high fever (over 38 degrees C) as a result of respiratory tract infection, increased initial pulse rate (over 125 beats/minute) and white blood cell count of over 16,000/mm3, and pneumothorax on admission. Simple asthma and history of taking franol or tedral in status asthmaticus indicated a low risk for mechanical ventilation. The taking of glucocorticoids did not pose a risk to status asthmaticus requiring mechanical ventilation.