title: Comparison of two methods of delivering continuously nebulized albuterol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the relative delivery of 2 methods for providing continuously nebulized albuterol (CNA): a small-volume nebulizer plus infusion pump versus a large-volume nebulizer.
  
  
  METHODS
  An open, randomized comparison of 3 hours of CNA administration using an in vitro lung model with a follow-up particle size assessment of the large-volume nebulizer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six different nebulizers of each type were connected to a lung model via a volume-limited mechanical ventilator and infant ventilator circuitry. Albuterol was nebulized at 10 mg/h for 3 hours in random order. The small-volume nebulizer used was the Airlife Misty Neb (Baxter, Valencia, CA); the large-volume nebulizer was the HEART Nebulizer (Vortran Medical, Orangevale, CA). One large-volume nebulizer was operated over 8 hours for the output and particle sizing study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The small-volume nebulizer delivered a greater amount of albuterol (mean +/- SD percentage of total nebulized) to the model lung (5.75 +/- 1.38% vs. 4.12 +/- 0.67%; p < 0.025) than the large-volume nebulizer, but demonstrated greater variability. Although total output was not maintained after 8 hours of nebulization with the large-volume nebulizer, the percent of particles in the respirable range remained consistent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The large-volume nebulizer evaluated in this study maintains consistent output up to 8 hours and provides an acceptable method for delivering CNA through an infant ventilator circuit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131-5311, USA. hwkelly@unm.edu
authors.forename: H William
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Kerry A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Keim
authors.forename: Bennie C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: McWilliams
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000336:Aerosols; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D008961:Models, Structural; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D012121:Respiration, Artificial
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D000420:Albuterol