Prolonged Artificial Ventilation in Severe Status Asthmaticus

Prolonged artificial ventilation was employed 29 times in cases of severe status asthmaticus at the Medical Department, University of Turku, in co‐operation with the Department of Anesthesiology. Three of the 26 patients were twice under respirator treatment. The outcome was fatal in four cases. At the time they were connected up to the respirator all the patients were physically exhausted, pale, cyanosed and had difficulties in coughing up bronchial secretions. Seventeen patients were unconscious. Carbon dioxide retention occurred in all the cases. The mean duration of controlled mechanical ventilation was five days. The indications for controlled respirator therapy are examined with reference to the material. The conclusion reached is that this form of therapy is useful, often a necessary and lifesaving measure in the treatment of patients with most severe status asthmaticus.