title: Pumpless extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal for life-threatening asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the use of pumpless extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal in two cases of acute severe asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case reports.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult general intensive care unit, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 74-yr-old male and 52-yr-old female with life-threatening asthma developed progressive hypercapnia and severe acidosis that proved nonresponsive to all other therapies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Initiation of extracorporeal arteriovenous carbon dioxide removal using the Novalung device (Novalung GmbH, Lotzenäcker 3, D-72379 Hechingen, Germany).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The addition of extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal to mechanical ventilation corrected hypercapnia and acidosis, allowing reduction of other supportive measures. In both cases, adequate gas exchange was maintained until their underlying condition improved sufficiently for device removal. The two patients were subsequently weaned from mechanical ventilation and made a full recovery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal proved to be a valuable adjunct to mechanical ventilation and other medical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Anaesthetic Department, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Stuart C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Elliot
authors.forename: Kumar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Paramasivam
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oram
authors.forename: Andrew R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bodenham
authors.forename: Simon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: Abhiram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mallick
mesh_terms: D000142:Acidosis, Respiratory / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006935:Hypercapnia / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010107:Oxygenators, Membrane; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide