title: Albuterol nebulized in heliox in the initial ED treatment of pediatric asthma: a blinded, randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A prospective blinded, randomized controlled trial was undertaken to compare the initial response of albuterol nebulized in heliox or control in the treatment of moderately severe asthma in children presenting to a pediatric ED.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomized to receive heliox (n = 20) or control (n = 21). The primary outcome was to compare a modified dyspnea index score at 10 and 20 minutes after randomization. Secondary outcomes were to determine if heliox decreased admission rates or endotracheal intubation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistically significant difference found at 10 or 20 minutes after randomization with heliox (P = .169 and P = .062, respectively). No statistical difference in admission rate was found, and no patients required endotracheal intubation in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate that albuterol nebulized with heliox offered no clinical benefit over standard therapy in the initial treatment of moderately severe asthma in the ED.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Michigan and Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, 48201, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: Tommy Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Gail M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Lilit
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Minasyan
authors.forename: Lance
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006371:Helium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D006371:Helium; C038949:heliox; D000420:Albuterol; D010100:Oxygen