Intensive Care Unit Management

I. Intravenous and Inhaled ~2 Agonists ~2 agonists are the bronchodilators of choice for acute severe asthma. Studies done over a decade ago by Rossing et al. demonstrated the superiority of the ~ agonists over aminophylline as single-drug therapy for acute asthma (1-3). In acute asthma ~2 agonists may be given parenterally, by subcutaneous or intravenous injection, or by inhalation with the use of a nebulizer or metered dose inhaler (MDI). While there is agreement that ~2 agonists as agents of first choice for acute severe asthma, the literature in conflicting on the best route of administration for patients with severe asthma.