Helium/oxygen-driven albuterol nebulization in the management of children with status asthmaticus: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the effect of heliox-powered albuterol therapy on hospital length of stay and clinical status in children with moderate to severe status asthmaticus.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.


METHODS
Twenty-five-bed pediatric intensive care unit at an academic children's medical center.


METHODS
Forty-two children (2-21 yrs of age) with moderate to severe status asthmaticus.


METHODS
Patients were randomized to receive either heliox-powered nebulized albuterol or air/oxygen-powered nebulized albuterol (placebo) until they were transitioned to albuterol delivered by a metered dose inhaler.


RESULTS
Clinical asthma scores were recorded on enrollment and every 4 hrs thereafter. Patients in the heliox group (n = 22) and the control group (n = 20) had similar ages (mean +/- sem: 88 +/- 9.9 vs. 98 +/- 11.1 months, respectively; p = .51), time to study enrollment (618 +/- 70.4 vs. 597 +/- 84.1 mins, respectively; p = .72), and clinical asthma scores at study entry (5.9 +/- 0.2 vs. 5.7 +/- 0.3, respectively; p = .72). There were no significant differences between groups in time to eligibility to hospital discharge (66.2 +/- 8.7 vs. 63.4 +/- 8.6 hrs, respectively; p = .61), time to clinical asthma score <3 (22 +/- 2.8 vs. 21.2 +/- 5.3 hrs, respectively; p = .27), or time to eligibility for intensive care unit discharge (34.4 +/- 6.8 vs. 33.3 +/- 8.2 hrs, respectively; p = .64). There were no significant differences in adverse events between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the previously demonstrated effects of heliox on improved aerosol particle delivery into the distal airways, heliox-powered nebulized albuterol therapy for children admitted to the hospital with moderate to severe status asthmaticus does not shorten hospital length of stay or hasten rates of clinical improvement when compared with air/oxygen-powered nebulized albuterol.
Bigham
Michael T
MT
Division of Critical Care Medicine, Akron Children's Hospital, Akron, OH, USA.
Jacobs
Brian R
BR
Monaco
Marie A
MA
Brilli
Richard J
RJ
Wells
Dan
D
Conway
Edward M
EM
Pettinichi
Scott
S
Wheeler
Derek S
DS
D000293:Adolescent; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006371:Helium / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers / Q000592:standards*; D009820:Ohio; D010100:Oxygen / Q000009:adverse effects; D010919:Placebos; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013224:Status Asthmaticus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D010919:Placebos; D006371:Helium; C038949:heliox; D000420:Albuterol; D010100:Oxygen