[Efficacy of treatment modification in status asthmaticus and complication frequency]

Patients in status asthmaticus need intensive treatment often in ICU. In last 10 years period 342 patients with this diagnosis treated in ICU at university hospital were enrolled in the study and divided into 4 groups. The groups differ in treatment. In group I therapy included: oxygen supplementation, inhaled beta-agonist and intravenous steroid. In group II treatment was like in group I with i.v. theophylline, in group III like in group II with inhaled ipratropium bromide. Group IV was composed with patients who need mechanical ventilation. This study show that used treatment in groups caused significant improvement in bronchial air flow. The hospitalization time in groups I-III was similar (mean range 9.7-11 days). In group IV was longer (mean 16.4 days). We observed small numbers of complications: 11 deaths, 5 atelectasis, 4 heart insufficiency, 3 nosocomial pneumonia, 2 pleural oedema, 2 mediastinum oedema, 2 exacerbations of ischaemic heart disease and 2 cerebral stroke.