Synchronized abdominal compression as a novel treatment of life-threatening preschool asthma.

In severe asthma, management of life-threatening air trapping that persists despite initiation of standard asthma treatment is difficult in the absence of extracorporeal membranous oxygenation. Three children with life-threatening asthma could not be adequately ventilated despite maximum conventional treatment because of severe air trapping. A novel method of active expiration by abdominal compression with a standard ventilator was adopted with immediate effect with significant improvement in ventilation.