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Ketamine to avoid mechanical ventilation in severe pediatric asthma
T Kent Denmark1, Heather A Crane, Lance Brown
1Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Loma Linda University Medical Center and Children's Hospital, Loma Linda, California 92354, USA.
The Journal of Emergency Medicine
|March 29, 2006
Summary
Intravenous ketamine may help children with severe asthma avoid mechanical ventilation. This treatment offers a potential alternative to invasive procedures, reducing iatrogenic risks in pediatric asthma patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Critical Care
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Severe asthma exacerbations in children can lead to respiratory failure.
- Mechanical ventilation, while life-saving, carries significant iatrogenic risks for pediatric patients.
Observation:
- Two prepubertal children with severe asthma exacerbations were treated with intravenous ketamine.
- A ketamine bolus followed by a continuous infusion was administered.
Findings:
- Ketamine administration resulted in prompt clinical improvement in both cases.
- The need for endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation was avoided.
Implications:
- Intravenous ketamine may serve as an effective temporizing strategy for severe pediatric asthma.
- This approach could mitigate the risks associated with mechanical ventilation in this population.