Death in Status Asthmaticus

Thirty patients with status asthmaticus were studied and divided into two groups based on survival. The sedative medication received by those patients who survived and those who succumbed was compared. In those patients who died and in whom the amount of sedation received prior to death was known, there existed a high degree of correlation between death and the amount of sedation received. Although the two groups may not be strictly comparable, it seems clear that the more sedation that was given, the greater the hazard to life.