[A case of life-threatening acute asthma with marked elevation of serum theophylline level during inhalational anesthesia].

A 21-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of life-threatening acute asthma. His condition deteriorated while he was receiving aminophylline and high-dose corticosterolids, and complicated by pneumomediaststinum. He was intubated and ventilated mechanically. Since peak inspiratory pressure was very high and arterial blood gases were not improving, he was treated with inhaled haltohane and enflurane, and bronchial lavage was done via a bronchoscope. Anesthesia continued for 114 hours before his condition improved. The serum theophylline levels were elevated during anesthesia. Since the dose of aminophylline was not very high, this elevation may have been related to the inhalation of halothane and enflurane.