Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as emergency treatment for life-threatening acute severe asthma.
We report a case of acute severe asthma that was resistant to full medical treatment, mechanical ventilation and halothane inhalation. Because a fatal outcome appeared likely extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, involving partial cardiac bypass, using femoral artery and femoral vein cannulation was instituted as an urgent measure. The patient then made a satisfactory recovery.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D004630:Emergencies; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation; D005260:Female; D006221:Halothane / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010100:Oxygen / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D010100:Oxygen; D006221:Halothane