The role of mesna in the treatment of status asthmaticus in children.

Status asthmaticus in children is a life-threatening condition that calls for a comprehensive set of therapeutic measures, viz. evacuation of tracheobronchial secretions, parenteral drug administration and improvement of alveolar gas exchange. In the authors' experience, that therapeutic procedure can be much improved by bronchial lavage with mesna. This is illustrated by the good results obtained in fourteen patients with status asthmaticus and in another forty-four cases of global respiratory insufficiency. Evaluation was by blood gas values and X-ray pictures. The method used for bronchial lavage is described.