Skip to main content
PMC home page
Thorax logoLink to Thorax
. 1979 Feb;34(1):40–44. doi: 10.1136/thx.34.1.40

Sudden death in asthma.

J R Bateman, S W Clarke
PMCID: PMC471005  PMID: 442000

Abstract

Two deaths after sudden severe asthma attacks in young people are reported from a clinic set up to identify and manage "at risk" patients. These deaths occurred despite frequent visits at which recommendations made by previous studies were implemented. The risk factors and management of such episodes have been reviewed. Precautions taken proved inadequate due to the severe, abrupt nature of the attacks, failure of the patients' immediate treatment, and delay in reaching hospital. Consideration should be given to the self-administration of subcutaneous adrenaline or specific beta-agonists, the provision of a detailed medical card, and free access to the nearest hospital in such cases.

Full text

PDF
40

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Cochrane G. M., Clark J. H. A survey of asthma mortality in patients between ages 35 and 64 in the Greater London hospitals in 1971. Thorax. 1975 Jun;30(3):300–305. doi: 10.1136/thx.30.3.300. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Crompton G. K., Grant I. W. Edinburgh emergency asthma admission service. Br Med J. 1975 Dec 20;4(5998):680–682. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5998.680. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Dunnill M. S. The pathology of asthma. Ciba Found Study Group. 1971;38:35–46. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. EARLE B. V. Fatal bronchial asthma; a series of fifteen cases with a review of the literature. Thorax. 1953 Sep;8(3):195–206. doi: 10.1136/thx.8.3.195. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Harris F. Letter: Management of acute asthma. Br Med J. 1975 Nov 1;4(5991):288–288. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5991.288-c. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Hetzel M. R., Clark T. J., Branthwaite M. A. Asthma: analysis of sudden deaths and ventilatory arrests in hospital. Br Med J. 1977 Mar 26;1(6064):808–811. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.6064.808. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Inman W. H., Adelstein A. M. Rise and fall of asthma mortality in England and Wales in relation to use of pressurised aerosols. Lancet. 1969 Aug 9;2(7615):279–285. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(69)90051-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. MacDonald J. B., MacDonald E. T., Seaton A., Williams D. A. Asthma deaths in Cardiff 1963-74: 53 deaths in hospital. Br Med J. 1976 Sep 25;2(6038):721–723. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.6038.721. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Macdonald J. B., Seaton A., Williams D. A. Asthma deaths in Cardiff 1963-74: 90 deaths outside hospital. Br Med J. 1976 Jun 19;1(6024):1493–1495. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.6024.1493. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Seaton A. Asthma--contrasts in care. Thorax. 1978 Feb;33(1):1–2. doi: 10.1136/thx.33.1.1-a. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Silverglade A. Evaluation of reports of deaths from asthma. J Asthma Res. 1971 Mar;8(3):95–98. doi: 10.3109/02770907109108365. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Turner-Warwick M. On observing patterns of airflow obstruction in chronic asthma. Br J Dis Chest. 1977 Apr;71(2):73–86. doi: 10.1016/0007-0971(77)90086-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Thorax are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES