Mesh nebulizer is as effective as jet nebulizer in clinical practice of acute asthma in children

Özge SOYER,Ümit Murat ŞAHİNER,Ebru ARIK YILMAZ,Betül BÜYÜKTİRYAKİ,Saliha ESENBOĞA,Melike KAHVECİ,Betül KARAATMACA,Bülent Enis ŞEKEREL,Pınar GÜR ÇETINKAYA

doi:10.3906/sag-1812-133

Abstract

Background/aim The aim of this study was to compare the effect of salbutamol delivered to children by jet nebulizer (JN) and mesh nebulizer (MN).Materials and methods Children admitted with acute asthma were treated with 3 doses of nebulized salbutamol, 1 given by MN. The patients’ vital signs, lung function measurements, modified pulmonary index score (MPIS), and whole body plethysmography (WBP) measurements were evaluated before and 20 min after each dose of salbutamol.ResultsThirty-onechildren [9.5 (6.4–17.2) years, 67.7% male, 32.3% female] with mild (67.7%) and moderate (32.3%) asthma attacks were included in the study. The improvements with MN were comparable with JN in terms of changes in pretreatment and posttreatment forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) (2.57 ± 4.57, 3.65 ± 5.44; P = 0.44), forced vital capacity (FVC) (2.52 ± 5.29, 4.17 ± 7.54; P = 0.28), heart rate (7.33 ± 10.21, 4.14 ± 9.32; P = 0.24), peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2) (0.38 ± 0.23, 0.43 ± 0.15; P = 0.83), and modified pulmonary index score (MPIS) (−6.30 ± 22.70, −8.77 ± 25.46; P = 0.70). The pre- and posttreatment values of total lung capacity (TLC), residual volume (RV), specific conductance (sGaw), and RV/TLC were similar for the JN and MN groups. Adverse effects were not different: however, complaints of palpitation were significantly higher in the posttreatment MN group than the pretreatment MN group (32.3% vs 9.7%, respectively, P = 0.016).ConclusionsThese findings support the previous evidence found in studies of adults that MN is as effective as and as safe as JN in the treatment of acute asthma in children.

Highlights

In the treatment of acute severe asthma, inhalation therapy through nebulizers is essential
The improvements with Mesh nebulizers (MN) were comparable with Jet nebulizers (JN) in terms of changes in pretreatment and posttreatment forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) (2.57 ± 4.57, 3.65 ± 5.44; P = 0.44), forced vital capacity (FVC) (2.52 ± 5.29, 4.17 ± 7.54; P = 0.28), heart rate (7.33 ± 10.21, 4.14 ± 9.32; P = 0.24), peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2) (0.38 ± 0.23, 0.43 ± 0.15; P = 0.83), and modified pulmonary index score (MPIS) (−6.30 ± 22.70, −8.77 ± 25.46; P = 0.70)
The pre- and posttreatment values of total lung capacity (TLC), residual volume (RV), specific conductance, and RV/TLC were similar for the JN and MN groups

Summary

Introduction

In the treatment of acute severe asthma, inhalation therapy through nebulizers is essential. Nebulizers are devices that convert liquid formulations into gaseous suspended droplets. There are 3 types of nebulizers that have different working principles currently in use: jet, ultrasonic, and mesh nebulizers. Jet nebulizers (JN) are in widespread use for the treatment of acute asthma in daily practice, since they are less expensive, less fragile, and have a smaller average particle size than ultrasonic nebulizers. Several electronic nebulizer devices that use a vibrating mesh or plate have been marketed, and these devices have been suggested to be more efficient at delivering aerosol to the lung. Mesh nebulizers (MN) have the advantages of being quieter, lighter, portable, suitable

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion