Abstract

HERRERA G, ANA MARÍA et al. Asthma exacerbation in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: clinical features. Rev. chil. enferm. respir. [online]. 2011, vol.27, n.1, pp. 26-30. ISSN 0717-7348.  doi: 10.4067/S0717-73482011000100004.

Introduction: Some asthmatic children present severe exacerbations, demanding hospitalization in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). On a national Chilean scale, there is no published data about these patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical features of children with asthmatic exacerbations requiring PICU management at Roberto del Río Children's Hospital in Santiago de Chile. Patients and Method: Retrospective and descriptive study in children above 4 years of age discharged from PICU with diagnosis of asthmatic exacerbation during a three years period. Results: 67 children required treatment in PICU. The average of age was 7 years old, while the average of hospital stay was 4 days. Non invasive ventilation (NIV) was used in 59 patients. Only 27 patients had previous diagnosis of asthma, with good treatment adherence only in 7 of them. Conclusions: Before being hospitalized, only 40% of the asthmatic patients were diagnosed as asthmatic and most of them had a bad treatment compliance. NIVwas used in a remarkably high percentage of these patients.

Keywords : Asthma attack; near fatal asthma; asthma crisis; Pediatric intensive care unit.