title: Management of acute severe asthma.
abstract: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder that results in recurrent episodes of reversible airflow obstruction. Lung hyperinflation results from obstruction or dynamic airway collapse during exhalation. Obstruction and dynamic hyperinflation both play a deleterious role in asthma. Patients who present with asthma have increased inspiratory work of breathing due to lung hyperinflation and auto-positive end-expiratory pressure (auto-PEEP). The goal of acute care treatment is to reverse bronchoconstriction and inflammation, thus reducing dynamic hyperinflation, so that breathing is restored to baseline, unlabored, quiet breathing.
authors.affiliation: Asheville Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates, PA, 30 Choctaw Street, Asheville, NC 28801, USA. adametmar@charter.net
authors.forename: Adam C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Winters
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D010808:Physical Examination; D018467:Positive-Pressure Respiration, Intrinsic / Q000209:etiology; D012008:Recurrence; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents