Abstract
Acute severe asthma is characterized by a state of airway inflammation and increased bronchiolar smoothmuscle tone that leads to increased resistance to expiration and lung hyperinflation. Despite the better knowledge of its pathophysiology, the incidence and severity of asthma in the last twenty years is increased worldwide, although with significant age and geographic variation. As a result, the number of patients requiring more intensive medical therapy has also increased. In the most severe cases, often referred to as near-fatal asthma, the institution of mechanical ventilation may be required. Volatile anesthetics have bronchodilator effects on the bronchial smooth muscle. The use of inhalational anesthetic agents for treatment of severe status asthmaticus has been documented in case reports, case series and small uncontrolled studies. Their use may be considered in any mechanically ventilated patients whose severe bronchospasm failed to respond to maximal medical treatment. In the present review article, we aim to provide a brief description of the physio-pathological and clinical features of acute severe asthma, and of the principles of treatment, focusing our attention on the use of the inhalational anesthetics in severe patients requiring mechanical ventilation and not responding to conventional therapy.
Keywords: Status asthmaticus, near-fatal asthma, inhalational anesthetics, halothane, isoflurane, sevoflurane
Current Drug Targets
Title: Inhalational Anesthetics in Acute Severe Asthma
Volume: 10 Issue: 9
Author(s): R. Vaschetto, E. Bellotti, E. Turucz, C. Gregoretti, F. Della Corte and P. Navalesi
Affiliation:
Keywords: Status asthmaticus, near-fatal asthma, inhalational anesthetics, halothane, isoflurane, sevoflurane
Abstract: Acute severe asthma is characterized by a state of airway inflammation and increased bronchiolar smoothmuscle tone that leads to increased resistance to expiration and lung hyperinflation. Despite the better knowledge of its pathophysiology, the incidence and severity of asthma in the last twenty years is increased worldwide, although with significant age and geographic variation. As a result, the number of patients requiring more intensive medical therapy has also increased. In the most severe cases, often referred to as near-fatal asthma, the institution of mechanical ventilation may be required. Volatile anesthetics have bronchodilator effects on the bronchial smooth muscle. The use of inhalational anesthetic agents for treatment of severe status asthmaticus has been documented in case reports, case series and small uncontrolled studies. Their use may be considered in any mechanically ventilated patients whose severe bronchospasm failed to respond to maximal medical treatment. In the present review article, we aim to provide a brief description of the physio-pathological and clinical features of acute severe asthma, and of the principles of treatment, focusing our attention on the use of the inhalational anesthetics in severe patients requiring mechanical ventilation and not responding to conventional therapy.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Vaschetto R., Bellotti E., Turucz E., Gregoretti C., Corte Della F. and Navalesi P., Inhalational Anesthetics in Acute Severe Asthma, Current Drug Targets 2009; 10 (9) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138945009789108747
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138945009789108747 |
Print ISSN 1389-4501 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-5592 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
New drug therapy for eye diseases
Eyesight is one of the most critical senses, accounting for over 80% of our perceptions. Our quality of life might be significantly affected by eye disease, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye, etc. Although the development of microinvasive ocular surgery reduces surgical complications and improves overall outcomes, medication therapy is ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Adenosine and Adenosine Receptors in the Pathomechanism and Treatment of Respiratory Diseases
Current Medicinal Chemistry Cytokines and their Antagonists as Therapeutic Agents
Current Medicinal Chemistry Recent Patents on the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes
Recent Patents on Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Drug Discovery Association of Serum Malondialdehyde and C-reactive Protein Levels with Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Gene and Gene-Environment Risk Factors in Sudden Undexpected Death in Infants
Current Pediatric Reviews <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> Heat Shock Protein 70 Lacks Immune Modulatory Activity
Protein & Peptide Letters <i>Nigella sativa</i> – A Functional Spice From A Pharaoh’s Tomb to Modern Healthcare
The Natural Products Journal Role of Hydrogen Sulfide in Systemic and Pulmonary Hypertension: Cellular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Engineered Nanoparticles for Improved Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) Biomedical Applications
Recent Patents on Nanomedicine Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor: A Therapeutic Target Across Inflammatory Diseases
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) The Safety of Allergen Specific Sublingual Immunotherapy
Current Drug Safety The Potential Clinical Properties of Magnesium
Current Medicinal Chemistry Using Simulation in Clinical Education: Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) Score Assessment
Current Rheumatology Reviews Real-life Experience of Clinical Efficacy of Omalizumab Use in the MiddleEast: Should We Also Be Concerned About Parasites?
Clinical Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Drugs (Discontinued) Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting; is it Still Relevant?
Current Cardiology Reviews Anti-inflammatory and Antitumor Properties of Eriobotrya Japonica Lindl: Mini-Review
Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Discontinued) Strategies to Develop Allergy Immunotherapeutics with Applications of Directed Molecular Evolution
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents Inhaled KMUP-1 Prevents Allergic Pulmonary Vascular Inflammation and Remodeling via NO and Suppressed MMP-9 and ICAM-1/VCAM-1
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) Alternatively Activated Macrophages Revisited: New Insights into the Regulation of Immunity, Inflammation and Metabolic Function following Parasite Infection
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued) Endothelins Role in the Control of the Acute Phase of Trypanosoma cruzi Infection
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry