Pressure-flow signatures of central-airway mucus plugging.

SETTING

Medical Intensive Care Unit of Regions Hospital, a University of Minnesota-affiliated teaching hospital.

PATIENT

Mechanically ventilated woman with status asthmaticus and acute respiratory failure.

INTERVENTION

Observations of airway pressure and flow tracings before and after bronchoscopic inspection and airway lavage.

MAIN RESULTS

Four newly observed signs were recorded that may serve to identify occult central airway mucus plugging in the ventilated asthmatic patient.