Right timing of mechanical ventilation in patients with bronchial asthma in emergency room

Abstract

Objective To explore the right timing of mechanical ventilation in patients with bronchial asthma in emergency room. Methods A total of 67 patients with bronchial asthma undergoing mechanical ventilation were admitted into our Emergency Intensive Care Unit (EICU) from January 2010 to December 2012. According to PaCO2 before intubation, they were divided into 3 groups of low levels of PaCO2[PaCO2≤35 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)](n=19), normal PaCO2 (35 mmHg<PaCO2<45 mmHg)(n=21)and high PaCO2 (PaCO2 ≥45 mmHg)(n=27). Their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Results The in-hospital mortality of three groups were 5.3%(1/19), 9.5%(2/21) and 14.8%(4/27) and the difference was not statistically significant (χ2=1.16, P>0.05). However the average duration of mechanical ventilation of three groups were (5.6±1.7), (8.3±2.1) and (13.5±3.6) days and the difference was statistically significant (F=3.36, P=0.042). The average ICU treatment time was (7.4±2.1), (11.5±3.3) and (16.4±3.5) days and the difference was statistically significant (F=3.23, P=0.047). PaCO2 levels before intubation was positively correlated with the duration of mechanical ventilation and the ICU treatment time (r2=0.366, 0.316, P=0.031, 0.029). Conclusion The patients with bronchial asthma undergoing intubation in right time in emergency room will affect the duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU treatment time. Key words: Bronchial asthma; Mechanical ventilation; Prognosis