Treatment of acute severe asthma assisted by hypothermia.
A 20-year-old woman in status asthmaticus who failed to respond to conventional therapy and ventilation of the lungs with 0.5-2.0% halothane, was cooled to 30 degrees C for almost 5 days as the arterial carbon dioxide tension rose above 15 kPa. Halothane was not of immediate value, contrary to other reports. A reduction in carbon dioxide production by controlled hypothermia permitted more suitable ventilation parameters, but extensive muscle weakness caused by a steroid-induced myopathy complicated weaning from respiratory support. Prospective measurement of serum creatinine phosphokinase concentration in patients given high dose corticosteroids may herald the onset of a myopathy.
Browning
D
D
Department of Anaesthesia, Basingstoke District Hospital, Hants.
Goodrum
D T
DT
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006221:Halothane / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000009:adverse effects; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D013224:Status Asthmaticus / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*
D003402:Creatine Kinase; D006221:Halothane; D006854:Hydrocortisone