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External Chest Compression in the Management of Acute Severe Asthma—A Technique in Search of Evidence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Malcolm M. Fisher ,
Anne P. Whaley  and
Roger R. Pye
Malcolm M. Fisher*
Affiliation:
Head, Intensive Therapy Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital; Clinical Professor, Department of Anaesthesia, University of Sydney NSW, Australia
Anne P. Whaley
Affiliation:
Staff Specialist, Intensive Therapy Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney NSW, Australia
Roger R. Pye
Affiliation:
Specialist in Intensive Care, Sydney Adventist Hospital, NSW, Australia
*
Intensive Therapy Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonard's, NSW 2065 Australia, [email protected]
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Abstract

Compelling anecdotal evidence exists for the potentially lifesaving benefits of mechanical external chest compression (MECC), but no published trials of the technique exist. The history and technique for MECC are discussed and illustrated by a case report. Although the technique is not discussed in the Resuscitation Guideline 2000, and the need for it within the intensive care unit has reduced, the use of MECC will have its greatest impact when initiated in the prehospital setting for patients suffering from severe, sudden-onset, asphyxic asthma.

Keywords

asthmachestcompression oflife supportmechanical
Type
Special Invited Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 16 , Issue 3 , September 2001 , pp. 124 - 127
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2001

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