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Life-Threatening Asthma

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Respiratory Disease and its Management

Part of the book series: Competency-Based Critical Care ((CBCC))

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Abstract

Acute severe asthma is a life-threatening condition that, in the majority of cases, has a slow onset and is preventable with early and appropri- ate treatment. For those who present to hospital, corticosteroids and nebulised β2-agonists and ipratropium bromide should be administered according to published guidelines. Patients who fail to respond to first-line treatment should be assessed by the intensive care team and placed in an environment where tracheal intubation can be rapidly and safely performed. The object of inten- sive care management of the critically ill asthma patient is to buy time for medical therapy to work whilst causing minimal harm.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Adult Intensive Care Unit, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK

    John E. S. Park & Mark J. D. Griffiths

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  1. John E. S. Park
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Intensive Care, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK

    A. McLuckie

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Park, J.E.S., Griffiths, M.J.D. (2009). Life-Threatening Asthma. In: McLuckie, A. (eds) Respiratory Disease and its Management. Competency-Based Critical Care. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-095-1_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-095-1_2

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