Original article
Short-term holding room treatment of asthmatic children

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We undertook a randomized trial to compare holding room treatment vs hospitalization of patients with childhood status asthmaticus. Two thirds of 51 patients were discharged from a holding room within 24 hours (mean 11.8±4.61 hours); the others required hospitalization. One third of 52 hospitalized patients received ≤1 day of intravenously administered therapy, and two thirds received <2 days of therapy (mean 45.6±12 hours). There were no statistically significant differences in recurrence rates between the two groups in the 28 days following status asthmaticus. For patients receiving ≤1 day of therapy, the holding room cost was $526±$226 vs $1439±$339 for hospitalized patients (P<0.001). Thus, holding room therapy for childhood status asthmaticus is both medically and economically effective.

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Supported by the Bowman C. Lingle Trust Allergy Research Fund (J.J.H.)

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