Pumpless extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal for life-threatening asthma.
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.
Elliot
Stuart C
SC
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Anaesthetic Department, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, UK.
Paramasivam
Kumar
K
Oram
John
J
Bodenham
Andrew R
AR
Howell
Simon J
SJ
Mallick
Abhiram
A
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
D002245:Carbon Dioxide