title: Asthma mortality associated with pneumothorax and intermittent positive-pressure breathing.
abstract: Many patients with acute asthma are treated with intermittent positive-pressure breathing (I.P.P.B.) devices. The development of pneumothorax in two fatal cases and its association with I.P.P.B suggests that this complication may be an important hazard in the treatment of acute asthma.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000628:Aminophylline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D001986:Bronchial Spasm / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D003645:Death, Sudden; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000628:Aminophylline; D007545:Isoproterenol; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D004837:Epinephrine