[Treatment of asthmatic states in the Acute Treatment and Pneumonology Center in Warsaw in the years 1991-1996].

In 1991-1996 there were 579 patients with status asthmaticus treated in the OLSA (Acute Asthma Treatment Center). The bronchial asthma was underlying cause in 314 patients, in 265 patients the cause of status asthmaticus was COPD. The mechanical ventilation was used in 26 patients constituting 4.5% of the universe of patients with status asthmaticus. 21 patients died in the ward. 12 of them with COPD, 9 with bronchial asthma. Among the above 9 patients with bronchial asthma there were 7 subjects admitted with symptoms of brain death, who underwent resuscitation on their way to hospital. There were only 2 patients who in Warsaw died in the result of untreatable stasus asthmaticus in our unit. The number of status asthmaticus is constantly declining. One bed for 350-500,000 of inhabitants is sufficient to secure the care for patients with acute severe asthma.