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Ketamine by continuous infusion in status asthmaticus
Author(s) -
STRUBE P. J.,
HALLAM P. L.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1986.tb12744.x
Subject(s) - medicine , bronchospasm , anesthesia , ketamine , mechanical ventilation , ventilation (architecture) , bronchodilator , intensive care , intensive care unit , continuous infusion , asthma , intensive care medicine , mechanical engineering , engineering
Summary A 13‐year‐old girl was admitted to the intensive care unit with status asthmaticus. Conventional bronchodilator therapy failed to relieve her bronchospasm. In order to try and avoid artificial ventilation, a continuous intravenous infusion of ketamine was used with success. The total dose rate was 40 μg/kg minute for a period of 8 hours; this was given at a decreasing rate. She regained consciousness 30 minutes after the end of the infusion and became well orientated after one hour. Ketamine is a useful drug in the intensive treatment of status asthmaticus and should be tried before a decision is taken to start mechanical ventilation.