Clinical effects of heliox administration for acute bronchiolitis in young infants.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of heliox, a helium-oxygen mixture, on respiratory distress symptoms in young infants.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, double-blind study.


METHODS
Pediatric ICU (PICU) of a university hospital.


METHODS
Twenty infants, all < 3 months old, admitted to the PICU with moderate-to-severe acute respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis.


METHODS
All infants were randomly and blindly assigned to inhale either heliox or an air-oxygen mixture (airox) for 1 h under an oxyhood.


RESULTS
After 1 h, the respiratory distress score was significantly lower in the heliox group compared with the airox group (3.05 vs 5.5, p < 0.01), with a significant reduction in accessory muscles use (p < 0.05) and expiratory wheezing (p < 0.01). In contrast, inspiratory breath sounds and cyanosis did not significantly differ between groups. The ex-premature infants of the heliox group had a higher respiratory distress score at baseline compared with the term infants of this group (5.8 vs 5.2, p < 0.05) and a comparable decrease in the score at 60 min.


CONCLUSIONS
In young infants, even those born prematurely, heliox breathing induced a rapid reduction in accessory muscles use and expiratory wheezing. Further studies are needed to confirm the decreased respiratory muscle work of breathing during heliox inhalation in this population.
Cambonie
Gilles
G
Unité de Réanimation-Pédiatrique, CHU de Montpellier, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, 371 Avenue du Doyen G. Giraud, 34295 Montpellier Cedex 5, France. g-cambonie@chu-montpellier.fr
Milési
Christophe
C
Fournier-Favre
Sébastien
S
Counil
François
F
Jaber
Samir
S
Picaud
Jean-Charles
JC
Matecki
Stefan
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D001988:Bronchiolitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006371:Helium / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007223:Infant; D010100:Oxygen / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000187:drug effects*; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D006371:Helium; C038949:heliox; D010100:Oxygen