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Helium/oxygen-driven albuterol nebulization in the treatment of children with moderate to severe asthma exacerbations: a randomized, controlled trial
Journal article

Helium/oxygen-driven albuterol nebulization in the treatment of children with moderate to severe asthma exacerbations: a randomized, controlled trial

In K Kim, Erin Phrampus, Shekhar Venkataraman, Raymond Pitetti, Al Saville, Timothy Corcoran, Ed Gracely, Nicole Funt and Ann Thompson
Pediatrics (Evanston), v 116(5), pp 1127-1133
Nov 2005
PMID: 16263999

Abstract

Single-Blind Method Acute Disease Emergency Service, Hospital Oxygen Asthma - physiopathology Bronchodilator Agents - administration & dosage Humans Oximetry Male Helium Asthma - drug therapy Adrenergic beta-Agonists - administration & dosage Albuterol - administration & dosage Aerosols Female Respiratory Function Tests Child Nebulizers and Vaporizers
Helium and oxygen mixtures (heliox) increase both pulmonary aerosol delivery and gas delivery relative to oxygen. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of a 70%:30% helium/oxygen (heliox)-driven continuous aerosol delivery versus 100% oxygen-driven delivery in the treatment of asthmatic children with moderate to severe exacerbations. We enrolled 30 children aged 2 to 18 years who presented to an urban, pediatric emergency department (ED) with moderate to severe asthma as defined by a pulmonary index (PI) score of > or =8. PI scores can range from 0 to 15. In this randomized, controlled, single-blind trial conducted in a convenience sample of children, all patients in the trial received an initial nebulized albuterol (5 mg) treatment driven by 100% oxygen and a dose of oral prednisone or prednisolone. Subsequently, patients were randomly assigned to receive continuously nebulized albuterol (15 mg/hour) delivered by either heliox or oxygen using a nonrebreathing face mask. The primary outcome measure was degree of improvement as assessed in blinded video-recorded PI scores over 240 minutes (at 30-minute intervals for the first 3 hours) or until ED discharge (if <240 minutes). The mean change in PI score from baseline to 240 minutes or ED discharge was 6.67 for the heliox group compared with 3.33 for the oxygen group. Eleven (73%) patients in the heliox group were discharged from the hospital in <12 hours compared with 5 (33%) patients in the conventional group. Continuously nebulized albuterol delivered by heliox was associated with a greater degree of clinical improvement compared with that delivered by oxygen among children with moderate to severe asthma exacerbations.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Pediatrics
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