Use of magnesium sulfate in continuous infusion in patients with severe acute asthma, in a pediatric emergency room

Introduction Asthma is a chronic disease, of high prevalence, with important morbidity and that can lead to death in childhood. The use of intravenous magnesium sulfate has been indicated in cases refractory to the initial management with inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids. Objective To evaluate the use of magnesium sulfate in continuous infusion (50 mg/kg/h in 4 h) in children with severe acute asthma in a pediatric emergency room. Location Ten-bed general pediatric emergency room, university hospital, tertiary, in southern Brazil. Patients All children over 2 years old with severe acute asthma refractory to the initial treatment who received a continuous infusion of magnesium sulfate at a dose of 50 mg/kg/h in 4 h, from April 2017 to October 2019. Conclusion Based on this study, the use of continuous intravenous magnesium sulfate proved to be well tolerated, leading to improved respiratory status, and can be considered as a satisfactory adjunctive therapy in the management of severe acute asthma.