Resuscitation of the Moribund Asthmatic and Emphysematous Patient

Abstract

A decade ago Segal¹ wrote in his monograph: "Death during an attack of bronchial asthma is comparatively rare." He also quoted Unger's² article of 1945 estimating that only 200 autopsies of this condition have been reported in the world literature. Five years later Sherman³ made the following statement: "In severe status asthmaticus with persistent cyanosis, failing to respond to corticotropin and cortisone, the mortality is considerable." Another five years later Messer, Peters and Bennett,⁴ of the Mayo Clinic, reported a mortality of 11.3 per cent in status asthmaticus and an additional 10.4 per cent from cardiopulmonary complications of bronchial asthma. . . .