Comparison of albuterol delivered by a metered dose inhaler with spacer versus a nebulizer in children with mild acute asthma.
OBJECTIVE
In children with mild acute asthma, to compare treatment with a single dose of albuterol delivered by a metered dose inhaler (MDI) with a spacer in either a weight-adjusted high dose or a standard low-dose regimen with delivery by a nebulizer.


METHODS
In this randomized double-blind trial set in an emergency department, 90 children between 5 and 17 years of age with a baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1 ) between 50% and 79% of predicted value were treated with a single dose of albuterol, either 6 to 10 puffs (n = 30) or 2 puffs (n = 30) with an MDI with spacer or 0.15 mg/kg with a nebulizer (n = 30).


RESULTS
No significant differences were seen between treatment groups in the degree of improvement in percent predicted FEV1 (P =.12), clinical score, respiratory rate, or O2 saturation. However, the nebulizer group had a significantly greater change in heart rate (P =.0001). Our study had 93% power to detect a mean difference in percent predicted FEV1 of 8 between the treatment groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In children with mild acute asthma, treatment with 2 puffs of albuterol by an MDI with spacer is just as clinically beneficial as treatment with higher doses delivered by an MDI or by a nebulizer.
Divisions of Emergency, Clinical Pharmacology, Chest, and Clinical Epidemiology, the Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
S
S
Schuh
D W
DW
Johnson
D
D
Stephens
S
S
Callahan
P
P
Winders
G J
GJ
Canny
D000293:Adolescent; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers
D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D000420:Albuterol