RELATION BETWEEN DURATION OF MECHANICAL VENTILATION AND BRONCHIAL HYPERRESPONSIVENESS IN NEAR-FATAL ASTHMA

Abstract

PURPOSE: Despite the initial severity of Acute asphyxial asthma, mechanical ventilation often restores gas exchange promptly, resulting in shorter durations of ventilation. Patients with bronchial hyperresponsiveness seem to have an increased risk of an near-fatal asthma attack. The influence of factors such as airway calibre, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, age and sex on the duration of mechanical ventilation in near-fatal asthma are poorly understood. We were particularly interested to establish whether there was any difference in duration of mechanical ventilation between subjects with a greater or lesser severity of asthma (expressed as bronchial hyperresponsiveness).