title: Life-threatening asthma.
abstract: This article focuses on various issues related to acute, life-threatening episodes of asthma. The areas discussed include epidemiology, clinical assessment, pharmacologic treatment with bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory agents, endotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, adjunctive and nonconventional therapy used in the management of the mechanically ventilated asthmatic, and the prognosis of patients who require mechanical ventilation, including both short-term morbidity and long-term outlook.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leatherman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000628:Aminophylline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; D000628:Aminophylline; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate