Albuterol nebulized in heliox in the initial ED treatment of pediatric asthma: A blinded, randomized controlled trial

Michelle L. Rivera, Tommy Y. Kim, Gail M. Stewart, Lilit Minasyan, Lance Brown

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: A prospective blinded, randomized controlled trial was undertaken to compare the initial response of albuterol nebulized in heliox or control in the treatment of moderately severe asthma in children presenting to a pediatric ED. Methods: Patients were randomized to receive heliox (n = 20) or control (n = 21). The primary outcome was to compare a modified dyspnea index score at 10 and 20 minutes after randomization. Secondary outcomes were to determine if heliox decreased admission rates or endotracheal intubation. Results: There was no statistically significant difference found at 10 or 20 minutes after randomization with heliox (P = .169 and P = .062, respectively). No statistical difference in admission rate was found, and no patients required endotracheal intubation in either group. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that albuterol nebulized with heliox offered no clinical benefit over standard therapy in the initial treatment of moderately severe asthma in the ED.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)38-42
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican Journal of Emergency Medicine
Volume24
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2006

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Emergency Medicine

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