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Synchronized abdominal compression as a novel treatment of life-threatening preschool asthma
Eric Y Chan1, Pak-Hong Chan1, Gerry M Yeung1
1Department of Paediatrics, Kwong Wah Hospital, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong, China.
Insights
Severe asthma with air trapping is challenging to manage. A new technique using synchronized abdominal compression during mechanical ventilation effectively improved ventilation in intubated children with severe asthma.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
- Respiratory Medicine
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- Severe asthma presents significant management challenges, particularly life-threatening air trapping.
- Conventional mechanical ventilation strategies are often insufficient for severe air trapping in asthma.
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a resource-intensive option for refractory cases.
Abstract:
Introduction: In severe asthma, management of life-threatening air trapping that persists despite initiation of standard asthma treatment is difficult in the absence of extracorporeal membranous oxygenation.Case study: Three children with life-threatening asthma could not be adequately ventilated despite maximum conventional treatment because of severe air trapping. A novel method of active expiration by abdominal compression with a standard ventilator was adopted with immediate effect with significant improvement in ventilation.Conclusion: Synchronized abdominal compression is a novel and simple method that allows an effective treatment of severe air trapping in an intubated paralyzed asthma child.
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