EXTRA-CORPOREAL MEMBRANE OXYGENATION FOR NEAR FATAL ASTHMA
Keywords:
Near fatal asthma, ECMO, mechanical ventilation, hypercapnia, hypoxemiaAbstract
Near fatal asthma (NFA) is a critical condition often causing hypoxemia, hypercapnia, and altered mental status. Patients with NFA breathe at high lung volumes, increasing the mechanical load and elastic work of breathing. Mechanical ventilation may be needed but can worsen dynamic hyperinflation and intrathoracic pressure. Mortality for patients requiring ventilation is 8%. ECMO offers an alternative, providing oxygen and removing CO2 through extracorporeal membrane techniques, especially in ARDS. It aims to reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and allow time for lung recovery. Its use in severe asthma is limited to case reports. This case highlights a patient with NFA and refractory hypoxemia and severe hypercapnia successfully managed by ECMO.
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