Early Intravenous Magnesium Sulfate Administration in the Emergency Department for Severe Asthma Exacerbations.

Background: Severe asthma exacerbations in pediatric patients occur frequently and can require pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission.

Objective: To determine if early administration of intravenous magnesium sulfate (IVMg) to pediatric patients experiencing severe asthma exacerbations, defined as a respiratory clinical score (RCS) of 9 to 12, resulted in fewer PICU admissions.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients aged from 2 to 17 years presenting with a severe asthma exacerbation to a single tertiary care pediatric emergency department.