Aerosol profile extracted from spacers as a determinant of actual dose.
OBJECTIVE
We propose a novel method to evaluate the efficacy of a pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI) in combination with a spacer, by not only considering the total dose extractable from the spacer but also the dependence of dose on the volume available for aerosol inhalation.


METHODS
We studied volume-dependence of aerosol concentration during extraction from two commonly used plastic spacers (150 ml AerochamberPlus; 750 ml Volumatic) after a single puff of a 100 microg salbutamol pMDI (HFA-Ventolin), using laser photometric measurements.


RESULTS
After a delay of is in each spacer, the aerosol peak dose for AerochamberPlus was 2-fold that for Volumatic (p < 0.001), with the peak appearing well within the first 0.5 L even for the largest spacer. The opposite dose relationship is reached when considering total cumulative dose, which was 2-fold higher for Volumatic than for AerochamberPlus (p < 0.001); >95% of total cumulative dose was extracted well within 3 L for the largest spacer. The 2-fold cumulative dose relationship was confirmed by chemical assay on an absolute filter [AerochamberPlus: 21.4+/-3.2 (SD) microg; Volumatic: 43.8+/-9.1 (SD) microg].


CONCLUSIONS
Actual aerosol dose available to patients during inhalation via spacers can only be done on the basis of a quantification of aerosol peak dose and cumulative dose as a function of extracted volume.
Verbanck
Sylvia
S
Academic Hospital, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium. sylvia.verbanck@az.vub.ac.be
Vervaet
Chris
C
Schuermans
Daniël
D
Vincken
Walter
W
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000336:Aerosols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D036501:Metered Dose Inhalers / Q000592:standards*
D000336:Aerosols; D000420:Albuterol