We treated two pediatric patients suffering respiratory failure associated with status asthmaticus. Neither patient responded to maximal bronchodilatory therapy and mechanical ventilation; however, continuous infusion of ketamine (1.0 to 2.5 mg/kg X h) immediately improved airway obstruction. Ketamine appears to increase catecholamine levels and directly relax bronchial smooth muscle. Except for increased secretions during the infusion, our patients showed no immediate or long-term sequelae from ketamine therapy. However, ketamine should only be used for asthmatics whose respiratory failure does not respond to conventional management and mechanical ventilation.