Use of High Frequency Chest Compression in Pediatric Status Asthmaticus

Asthma is a disease resulting in mucus hypersecretion and airways obstruction. This causes difficulty breathing. The High Frequency Chest Compressor (HFCC) is a device that has been shown to decrease respiratory complications in individuals with severe disability who are unable to clear airway secretions. There is a lack of studies using this device in children with asthma. The device has been shown in a study to be safe in children with asthma. The investigators propose that using this device in our pediatric patients hospitalized in the pediatric ICU with asthma will result in decreased pediatric ICU stay. The investigators will also look at asthma severity, total days of hospital stay and chest discomfort while on therapy.