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Published on: October 23, 2018
Inhalational anesthetics in acute severe asthma
Rosanna Vaschetto1, Enrico Bellotti, Emilia Turucz
1Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont "A. Avogadro", Novara, Italy.
Current Drug Targets
|October 6, 2009
Summary
Inhalational anesthetics can help severe asthma patients requiring mechanical ventilation when standard treatments fail. These agents offer bronchodilator effects for managing acute severe asthma and status asthmaticus.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology and Anesthesiology
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Acute severe asthma involves airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction, leading to respiratory distress.
- Global asthma incidence and severity have risen, increasing the need for advanced interventions.
- Near-fatal asthma may necessitate mechanical ventilation due to refractory bronchospasm.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the pathophysiology and treatment of acute severe asthma.
- To focus on the role of inhalational anesthetics in mechanically ventilated patients with severe asthma unresponsive to conventional therapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on acute severe asthma and inhalational anesthetic use.
- Analysis of case reports, case series, and uncontrolled studies on volatile anesthetic agents in status asthmaticus.
Main Results:
- Volatile anesthetics demonstrate bronchodilator properties beneficial for bronchial smooth muscle.
- Evidence suggests potential efficacy of inhalational anesthetics in severe, refractory bronchospasm.
Conclusions:
- Inhalational anesthetics are a potential therapeutic option for severe status asthmaticus in mechanically ventilated patients.
- Consideration of these agents is warranted when maximal medical therapy for severe bronchospasm proves insufficient.
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