A protocol for aerosol therapy in acute hospitalized asthmatics.
The most important element in the treatment of acute hospitalized asthmatics is salbutamol administered via wet nebulization prescribed usually on a subjective evaluation of the patient's status. This study outlines a novel protocol that incorporates the FEV1 variable as the major objective parameter in a feedback loop. Data from patients admitted in the year prior to the initiation of the protocol (N = 348) were compared with similar data from patients hospitalized the year following institution of the protocol (N = 238). There were no withdrawals from the protocol due to adverse effects nor were there any deteriorations requiring ICU admission. A significant decrease in the length of hospitalization and the number of salbutamol prescriptions per hospitalization was observed after, relative to before, institution of the protocol (2.2 vs. 2.6 days; 2.3 vs. 3.8; p < .05, respectively). It is concluded that this protocol is safe and efficient, and may also be more efficacious than a nonstandardized approach for treating the hospitalized asthmatic child.
Spier
S
S
Department of Pediatrics, Hôpital Ste-Justine, Universite de Montreal, Quebec.
Drblik
S P
SP
Lamarre
A
A
Lapierre
G
G
Marcotte
J E
JE
Bourgeois
M
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D000336:Aerosols / Q000592:standards*; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000465:Algorithms; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests
D000336:Aerosols; D000420:Albuterol