Hypophosphatemia induced by mechanical ventilation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The aim of this study was to assess prospectively the variations of serum phosphorus concentration (P) after onset of mechanical ventilation (MV) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and acute respiratory acidosis. In 14 COPD patients, we measured P, PaCO2, and pH, immediately before MV (H0), then one hour (H1), 4 (H4), 7 (H7), 12 (H12), and 24 h (H24) after starting MV. P at H0 was in or above the normal range in ten patients and below normal range in four patients.

Cardiac arrhythmias during the combined use of intravenous aminophylline and terbutaline in status asthmaticus.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate prospectively the occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias during the combined therapy with intravenous aminophylline and terbutaline in 29 consecutive patients with status asthmaticus. The 24-hour Holter recordings were performed during continuous intravenous infusions of aminophylline (0.56 +/- 0.