Halothane treatment of severe asthma to avoid mechanical ventilation.
A 41-year-old woman was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit with a severe exacerbation of asthma. She was exhausted despite maximal standard medical treatment. Instead of tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation a subanaesthetic dose of halothane was delivered in 100% oxygen using a close-fitting face mask. Her bronchospasm resolved within minutes. The argument for using inhaled halothane to avoid tracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation and their side-effects is presented.
Padkin
A J
AJ
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske, Truro, UK.
Baigel
G
G
Morgan
G A
GA
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006221:Halothane / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D012121:Respiration, Artificial
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D006221:Halothane