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Previous Volume 357:420-421 July 26, 2007 Number 4 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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To the Editor: In the Case Record presented by Wechsler et al. (May 17 issue),¹ many possible causes of death in a patient with asthma are considered. However, the discussants do not sufficiently emphasize that lung mechanics and hemodynamic effects associated with airflow obstruction are the most important physiological disturbances in patients with severe acute asthma. Hemodynamic collapse related to dynamic hyperinflation is a common cause of obstructive shock, pulseless electric activity, and cardiac arrest in intubated patients with asthma.

Thiago Lisboa, M.D.
University Rovira Virgili
43007 Tarragona, Spain

Diego de Mendoza, M.D.
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER)
. . . [Full Text of this Article]

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