title: Safety and efficiency of metered dose inhaler delivery of salbutamol in the intubated rabbit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the safety and efficiency of metered dose inhaler salbutamol delivered to the intubated rabbit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, comparative, five-group laboratory investigation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animal laboratory, Department of Nuclear Medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 30 adult, anesthetized New Zealand White rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three groups of rabbits underwent tracheal intubation through a tracheostomy and received 5 puffs of 99mTcO4 salbutamol delivered at the elbow connector (group 1) or via a catheter with its distal tip positioned at the midpoint (group 2) or bevel of the endotracheal tube (group 3). No intervention was provided for the rabbits in the fourth group. A fifth group underwent tracheal intubation through the mouth and received salbutamol (5 puffs) delivered at the bevel of the endotracheal tube.
  
  
  METHODS
  Delivery efficiency was expressed as the ratio of radioactivity emitted from lungs and trachea to the total radioactivity of the administered dose. Histopathologic injury scores were assigned to each trachea or lung specimen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Delivery efficiency was 30 times greater in groups 3 and 5 (full catheter) than in group 1 (elbow). The injury scores were similar in all groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that the increased efficiency obtained by administration of metered dose inhaler salbutamol at the distal tip of endotracheal tube is not necessarily associated with increased epithelial injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shorten
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dolovich
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuang
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rhem
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gouda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monkman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cutz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lerman
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D007553:Isotope Labeling / Q000379:methods; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011817:Rabbits; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012449:Safety; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; D014132:Trachea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014139:Tracheostomy
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; D000420:Albuterol