[Treatment of intraoperative status asthmaticus with ketamine].

A case report of an intraoperative asthmatic state that was untreatable by conservative methods is described. These methods include elevation of the patient's chest, ventilation with pure oxygen, and administration of volatile anaesthetics, bronchodilative drugs and corticoids. If the patient does not respond to conventional therapy, the bronchial smooth muscle relaxant effect of ketamine should be used.