Transcutaneous blood gas monitoring during salbutamol inhalations in young children with acute asthmatic symptoms.
The effect of salbutamol inhalations on transcutaneous blood gases was investigated in 23 children (aged 11 months-2.5 years) with asthmatic symptoms. After one salbutamol inhalation there was a mean increase in transcutaneous PO2 (tcPO2) of 0.5 kPa (P less than 0.01); after a second dose given 30 minutes later, the mean increase was 1.2 kPa (P less than 0.001). The increase in tcPO2 after only one dose of salbutamol was significantly correlated to age (P less than 0.01). No such correlation was observed after a second dose. The overall increase in tcPO2 after two salbutamol inhalations showed a negative correlation to the duration of the current symptomatic period (P less than 0.05). We conclude that salbutamol inhalations have beneficial effects in young children with acute asthmatic symptoms, even below the age of 18 months, provided that an adequate dose reaches the lung and preferably at an early stage of obstruction.
Holmgren
D
D
Department of Pediatrics I, University of Göteborg, East Hospital, Sweden.
Bjure
J
J
Engström
I
I
Sixt
R
R
Sten
G
G
Wennergren
G
G
D000208:Acute Disease; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001785:Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D000420:Albuterol; D010100:Oxygen