Abstract
Asthma prevalence and mortality have been increasing over the past 2 decades, despite advances in medical therapy. In 2003 the National Health Interview Survey reported over 4,000 asthma-related deaths. A small proportion of people with severe asthma use a large proportion of health-care resources and bear the burden of asthma-related morbidity and mortality. The management of acute asthma is complex and evolving. Understanding the phenotypes and pathophysiology of acute asthma will lead to increased recognition and characterization of populations at risk for fatal asthma. The early identification and appropriate management of acute asthma is critical in decreasing asthma morbidity and mortality. This paper reviews current pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic management of severe acute asthma.
- asthma
- exacerbation
- fatal asthma
- airway inflammation
- mechanical ventilation
- respiratory failure
- corticosteroids
- bronchodilators
Footnotes
- Correspondence: Neil R MacIntyre MD FAARC, Respiratory Care Services, PO Box 3911, Duke University Medical Center, Durham NC 27710. E-mail: neil.macintyre{at}duke.edu.
Dr MacIntyre presented a version of this paper at the 41st Respiratory Care Journal Conference, “Meeting the Challenges of Asthma,” held September 28–30, 2007, in Scottsdale, Arizona.
- Copyright © 2008 by Daedalus Enterprises Inc.
