Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument Score Research Articles

Evaluating the efficacy of corticosteroids and bronchodilators in the management of paediatric bronchiolitis

Background: Bronchiolitis, a standard lower tract infection in young children, poses significant challenges in terms of diagnosis and management. Corticosteroids and bronchodilators are often prescribed to manage this condition, despite limited evidence supporting their efficacy. This study aimed to judge the effectiveness of corticosteroids and bronchodilators within the management of paediatric bronchiolitis. Objective: to see the clinical efficacy of corticosteroids and bronchodilators in improving respiratory symptoms and reducing hospitalization rates among paediatric patients with bronchiolitis. Study Settings and Sample Size: This study was conducted at different centres including Department of Paediatrics, Social Security MNCH Hospital, Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab and Sahara Medical College Narowal, Punjab in the period from October, 2022 to March, 2023 enrolling 300 children aged 1 month to 2 years with a clinical diagnosis of bronchiolitis. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to at least one of three treatment groups: corticosteroids (n=100), bronchodilators (n=100), or placebo (n=100). the first outcome was improvement within the Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument (RDAI) score. Secondary outcomes included hospitalization rates, length of hospital stay, and adverse events. Results: Children within the corticosteroid group experienced a significantly greater improvement in RDAI scores compared to the placebo group (p<0.001).

Comparison of Epinephrine and Salbutamol Nebulization in Acute Bronchiolitis in terms of mean change in RDAI Score

Objective: This study was conducted to compare epinephrine and salbutamol nebulization in emergency management of moderately ill children less than one and a half years old with bronchiolitis in terms of mean change in respiratory distress assessment instrument (RDAI) score.
 Materials and Methods: Randomized controlled design was selected in this trial at the Department of Pediatrics, KRL Hospital Islamabad, Pakistan from 24th April 2016 to 24th October 2016. Sixty children with acute bronchiolitis, having a moderate degree of illness (RDAI 8-15) were included in this study. Patient were randomly allocated into Group A (epinephrine = 0.1 mL/kg in concentration of 1:10000) and Group B (salbutamol = 0.15 mg/kg combined with 3 mL 0.9% normal saline). It was delivered by a nebulizer and a face mask with a continuous flow of 6 L/min at100% oxygen. Data was collected on a predesigned performa and assessed with reference to mean change in RDAI score.
 Results: The patients ' mean age in Group A and Group B were 10.57±4.22 and 11.63±3.14 months, respectively. The majority of the patients were males (56%). The mean RDAI score was insignificant between the two groups, both at baseline (11.57±2.21 in epinephrine group vs 11.3±2.14 in salbutamol group, p = 0.63) and 125 minutes (4.77±2.19 in Epinephrine group vs 5.43±1.69 in Salbutamol group, p = 0.19). However, when stratified according to age and gender, the mean RDAI score was found statistically significant among the 2-12 months age group (p = 0.0045) and female gender (p = 0.0052).
 Conclusion: Epinephrine and salbutamol have similar effects in acute bronchiolitis when compared with regards to mean change in RDAI score.

Magnesium sulphate nebulization in acute bronchiolitis in infants: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Acute bronchiolitis is a disorder of the lower respiratory tract that occurs mostly in between 1 month to 24 months. There are limited numbers of studies on magnesium sulphate nebulization in acute bronchiolitis. There is a desperate need for a standard treatment which can reduce the morbidity and mortality in acute bronchiolitis. The goal was to study the efficacy of magnesium sulphate nebulization in infants with acute bronchiolitis.Methods: It was a prospective open labelled randomized controlled study. Children in age group of 2-12 months admitted with clinical diagnosis of acute bronchiolitis in paediatric emergency ward, GMSH-16, Chandigarh. Study group patients were treated with 40 mg/kg magnesium sulphate nebulization diluted with 2-3 ml normal saline in addition to supportive treatment as oxygen and IV fluids, three doses of medication were given at 1 hour interval and it was not repeated after three doses. Control group patients were treated with oxygen therapy, IV fluids, symptomatic treatment for fever and supportive care.Results: Respiratory distress assessment instrument score and length of hospital stay was significantly lesser in study group as compared to control group. SpO2 was significantly more in study group as compared to control group.Conclusions: Magnesium sulphate nebulization is effective in improving respiratory distress and oxygen saturation, it also reduces duration of hospital stay in infants with mild to moderate bronchiolitis.

Magnesium sulphate for treating acute bronchiolitis in children up to two years of age.

Acute bronchiolitis is a significant burden on children, their families and healthcare facilities. It mostly affects children younger than two years of age. Treatment involves adequate hydration, humidified oxygen supplementation, and nebulisation of medications, such as salbutamol, epinephrine, and hypertonic saline. The effectiveness of magnesium sulphate for acute bronchiolitis is unclear. To assess the effects of magnesium sulphate in acute bronchiolitis in children up to two years of age. We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS, CINAHL, and two trials registries to 30 April 2020. We contacted trial authors to identify additional studies. We searched conference proceedings and reference lists of retrieved articles. Unpublished and published studies were eligible for inclusion. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs, comparing magnesium sulphate, alone or with another treatment, with placebo or another treatment, in children up to two years old with acute bronchiolitis. Primary outcomes were time to recovery, mortality, and adverse events. Secondary outcomes were duration of hospital stay, clinical severity score at 0 to 24 hours and 25 to 48 hours after treatment, pulmonary function test, hospital readmission within 30 days, duration of mechanical ventilation, and duration of intensive care unit stay. We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. We used GRADE methods to assess the certainty of the evidence. We included four RCTs (564 children). One study received funding from a hospital and one from a university; two studies did not report funding sources. Comparator interventions differed among all four trials. Studies were conducted in Qatar, Turkey, Iran, and India. We assessed two studies to be at an overall low risk of bias, and two to be at unclear risk of bias, overall. The certainty of the evidence for all outcomes and comparisons was very low except for one: hospital re-admission rate within 30 days of discharge for magnesium sulphate versus placebo. None of the studies measured time to recovery, duration of mechanical ventilation, duration of intensive care unit stay, or pulmonary function. There were no events of mortality or adverse effects for magnesium sulphate compared with placebo (1 RCT, 160 children). The effects of magnesium sulphate on clinical severity are uncertain (at 0 to 24 hours: mean difference (MD) on the Wang score 0.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.28 to 0.54; and at 25 to 48 hours: MD on the Wang score -0.42, 95% CI -0.84 to -0.00). Magnesium sulphate may increase hospital re-admission rate within 30 days of discharge (risk ratio (RR) 3.16, 95% CI 1.20 to 8.27; 158 children; low-certainty evidence). None of our primary outcomes were measured for magnesium sulphate compared with hypertonic saline (1 RCT, 220 children). Effects were uncertain on the duration of hospital stay in days (MD 0.00, 95% CI -0.28 to 0.28), and on clinical severity on the Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument (RDAI) score at 25 to 48 hours (MD 0.10, 95% CI -0.39 to 0.59). There were no events of mortality or adverse effects for magnesium sulphate, with or without salbutamol, compared with salbutamol (1 RCT, 57 children). Effects on the duration of hospital stay were uncertain (magnesium sulphate: 24 hours (95% CI 25.8 to 47.4), magnesium sulphate + salbutamol: 20 hours (95% CI 15.3 to 39.0), and salbutamol: 24 hours (95% CI 23.4 to 76.9)). None of our primary outcomes were measured for magnesium sulphate + epinephrine compared with no treatment or normal saline + epinephrine (1 RCT,120 children). Effects were uncertain for the duration of hospital stay in hours (MD -0.40, 95% CI -3.94 to 3.14), and for RDAI scores (0 to 24 hours: MD -0.20, 95% CI -1.06 to 0.66; and 25 to 48 hours: MD -0.90, 95% CI -1.75 to -0.05). There is insufficient evidence to establish the efficacy and safety of magnesium sulphate for treating children up to two years of age with acute bronchiolitis. No evidence was available for time to recovery, duration of mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit stay, or pulmonary function. There was no information about adverse events for some comparisons. Well-designed RCTs to assess the effects of magnesium sulphate for children with acute bronchiolitis are needed. Important outcomes, such as time to recovery and adverse events should be measured.

COMPARATIVE STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NEBULIZED 3% HYPERTONIC SALINE AND NEBULIZED LEVOSALBUTAMOL IN THE MANAGEMENT OF BRONCHIOLITIS

Objective: The objective of the study was to compare the effects of nebulized 3% hypertonic saline and nebulized levosalbutamol in the management of bronchiolitis.
 Methods: Seventy children of age 1–24 months admitted into the hospital with the diagnosis of bronchiolitis. Participants were divided into two groups of 35 each. Group A was given nebulized 3% hypertonic saline and Group B was given nebulized levosalbutamol. Modified respiratory distress assessment instrument (RDAI) is used at admission, at 48 h after admission, and at the time of discharge to identify the reduction in scores between two groups.
 Results: The mean age of patients in the study population was 10.1±6.4 months. The mean birth weight of patients in Group A and Group B was 3.00±0.61 and 3.12±0.75. The percentage of male patients was 57.1% and the percentage of female patients was 42.8%. The modified RDAI score in Group A and Group B at admission, 48 h of admission, and at the time of discharge was 4.34±0.87, 2.4±1.03, and 0.67±0.05 (p=0.04) and 4.11±0.58, 3.60±1.00, and 2.51±0.96 (p=0.12). The hospital stay was observed to be lowered in Group A (3.77±0.88) compared to Group B (5.43±0.92; p=0.04).
 Conclusion: From the findings of our study, we conclude that nebulized 3% hypertonic saline, as it acts by hindering the pathophysiologic mechanism of bronchiolitis, is more effective in reducing the clinical severity score and length of hospital stay. Further 3% hypertonic saline also have the additional benefit of decreasing the economic burden of disease as it is safe, inexpensive, reduces the inpatient hospital charges by reducing the length of stay.

Adrenaline and Dexamethasone, vs Adrenaline and Fluticasone, vs Adrenaline alone in Bronchiolitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background and Objectives: There is no consensus over which drug best reduces symptoms in Bronchiolitis syndrome. The primary objective of our study is to establish comparative effect of adrenaline nebulisation alone and combination of adrenaline nebulisation plus injectable dexamethasone and adrenaline nebulisation plus fluticasone nebulisation in the treatment of clinical cases of bronchiolitis.
 Methods: 100 patients diagnosed clinically as bronchiolitis were enrolled in study from 1 month to 24 months of age. Patients were enrolled by purposive sampling. Patients with respiratory distress assessment instrument score [RDAI] of 4 to 15 were chosen, randomized into three groups and treatment given till patient fullfilled discharge criteria. Group A (n=33) were given nebulised adrenaline alone, Group B (n=34) were given nebulised adrenaline plus injectable dexamethasone and Group C (n=33) were given nebulised adrenaline plus nebulised fluticasone.
 Results: The mean reduction in clinical severity-RDAI score was 1.75 ±0.86 in Group A, 2.30 ± 0.68 in Group B and 1.42 ± 0.9 in Group C when measured in terms of difference in clinical scores between day 1 and 2 (p=0.0003).
 Mean duration of hospital stay in the group A was (4.93±1.95 days), Group C (4.78±1.83) and Group B (3.91 ±1.37 days). The difference of stay between the Groups A and B was 1.02±0.58 days vs 0.87± 0.46 days in groups B and C (p-0.0048). Reduction in the length of hospital stay in group B was 22% compared to Group A & 19% compared to Group C (p-0.0048).
 Side effects were tachycardia in six patients.
 Conclusion: Combination of adrenaline nebulization and injectable dexamethasone was found significantly better as compared to nebulised adrenaline plus nebulised fluticasone and nebulised adrenaline alone in patients of clinical bronchiolitis in reducing severity of clinical symptoms and duration of hospitalization.

Assessing physical and respiratory distress in children with bronchiolitis admitted to a community hospital emergency department: A retrospective chart review.

IntroductionBronchiolitis is a leading cause of infant hospitalization with wide variation in its diagnosis and management, especially in smaller community hospitals. The objective of this study is to describe children admitted to a community-based hospital emergency department (ED) for bronchiolitis and explore alternate assessments of illness severity.MethodsA retrospective chart review (January to September 2014) of 100 children, < 2 years old and meeting International Classification of Diseases 10 for bronchiolitis. Outcomes included demographics, symptoms, and interventions. In addition, the Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument (RDAI) score was calculated using documented assessments of wheezing and retractions. Descriptive and comparative statistics were completed with p < 0.05 considered significant.ResultsThe mean (standard deviation) age 10.6 (8.4) months, n = 41 females. Sixty-seven percent had a chest X-ray (CXR), 17% oral antibiotics, 65% bronchodilators, and 19% oral steroids; 19% were admitted in hospital. There was a significant difference in RDAI score between those given oral antibiotics (mean (95% CI), 6.35 (4.96–7.75)) versus not (4.70 (4.20–5.20)), p = 0.01. Those who received a CXR had a significantly higher oxygen flowrate (1.4 (0.6–2.1) litres per minute (lpm)) and worse physical appearance (tri-pod position, head bobbing) versus those who did not (0.15 (–0.05 to 0.35) lpm), p = 0.002 and p = 0.04, respectively.ConclusionsA large number of children admitted to a community-based ED for bronchiolitis received unnecessary CXR and medications. Assessing physical and respiratory distress may be more effective at determining illness severity compared with radiological or laboratory testing. Local clinical practice guidelines may aid in optimal management of bronchiolitis for community-based EDs.

Efficacy of Prednisolone in bronchiolitis with and without family history of atopy.

To determine decrease in respiratory distress and hospital stay in bronchiolitis patients with and without family history of atopy when treated with prednisolone. The multi-centre quasi-experimental study was conducted in three hospitals of Sialkot, Pakistan, from October 2017 to March 2018, and comprised patients of bronchiolitis who were divided into 2 groups on the basis of presence or absence of family history of atopy. Half of the patients in each group received oral prednisolone 2mg/kg/day for three consecutive days along with supportive care, and the remaining half received only supportive care. Patients were monitored at 12 and 24 hours for clinical response using Modified Respiratory distress Assessment Instrument score. Length of hospital stay was monitored upto 72 hours. SPSS 20 was used for data analysis. Of the 212 patients, 72(34%) were in the atopic group and 140(66%) in the non-atopic group. In atopic group, there was a significant respiratory distress difference observed between steroid and non-steroid subgroups at 24 hours (p=0.001) and all (100%) patients in the steroid subgroup got discharged at 24 hours, while only 8(22%) were discharged in the non-steroid subgroup. In non-atopic group, no significant improvement in corresponding terms was observed (p>0.05). Oral prednisolone in bronchiolitis was found to be only effective in patients with family history of atopy.

Intravenous magnesium sulfate for acute wheezing in young children: a randomised double-blind trial.

Magnesium sulfate has been shown to be an effective treatment in older children with asthma exacerbations, but it has not been investigated in acute severe virus-induced wheezing in young children.The study enrolled 61 children aged 6 months to 4 years. Inclusion criteria were severe wheezing, classified as a score of ≥6 points as assessed by the Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument (RDAI) after initial treatment with salbutamol, and the symptoms of acute viral infection. The children were randomly allocated to receive either an infusion of magnesium sulfate (40 mg·kg-1) or 0.9% sodium chloride as a placebo infusion for 20 min. Primary outcome measure was mean change in RDAI scores from baseline to 6 h after the treatment.Change in the severity of wheezing from baseline to 6 h after the treatment, as measured by mean±sd RDAI scores, was 4.7±2.6 in the magnesium sulfate group and 4.2±4.2 in the placebo group (difference 0.5, 95% CI -1.3 to 2.3, p=0.594).Intravenous magnesium sulfate was ineffective in treating acute severe virus-induced wheezing in young children, in contrast to the previous efficacy demonstrated in older children.

Effect of Nebulized Hypertonic Saline Treatment in Emergency Departments on the Hospitalization Rate for Acute Bronchiolitis

Acute bronchiolitis is the leading cause of hospitalization among infants. Previous studies, underpowered to examine hospital admission, have found a limited benefit of nebulized hypertonic saline (HS) treatment in the pediatric emergency department (ED). To examine whether HS nebulization treatment would decrease the hospital admission rate among infants with a first episode of acute bronchiolitis. The Efficacy of 3% Hypertonic Saline in Acute Viral Bronchiolitis (GUERANDE) study was a multicenter, double-blind randomized clinical trial on 2 parallel groups conducted during 2 bronchiolitis seasons (October through March) from October 15, 2012, through April 15, 2014, at 24 French pediatric EDs. Among the 2445 infants (6 weeks to 12 months of age) assessed for inclusion, 777 with a first episode of acute bronchiolitis with respiratory distress and no chronic medical condition were included. Two 20-minute nebulization treatments of 4 mL of HS, 3%, or 4 mL of normal saline (NS), 0.9%, given 20 minutes apart. Hospital admission rate in the 24 hours after enrollment. Of the 777 infants included in the study (median age, 3 months; interquartile range, 2-5 months; 468 [60.2%] male), 385 (49.5%) were randomized to the HS group and 387 (49.8%) to the NS group (5 patients did not receive treatment). By 24 hours, 185 of 385 infants (48.1%) in the HS group were admitted compared with 202 of 387 infants (52.2%) in the NS group. The risk difference for hospitalizations was not significant according to the mixed-effects regression model (adjusted risk difference, -3.2%; 95% CI, -8.7% to 2.2%; P = .25). The mean (SD) Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument score improvement was greater in the HS group (-3.1 [3.2]) than in the NS group (-2.4 [3.3]) (adjusted difference, -0.7; 95% CI, -1.2 to -0.2; P = .006) and similarly for the Respiratory Assessment Change Score. Mild adverse events, such as worsening of cough, occurred more frequently among children in the HS group (35 of 392 [8.9%]) than among those in the NS group (15 of 384 [3.9%]) (risk difference, 5.0%; 95% CI, 1.6%-8.4%; P = .005), with no serious adverse events. Nebulized HS treatment did not significantly reduce the rate of hospital admissions among infants with a first episode of acute moderate to severe bronchiolitis who were admitted to the pediatric ED relative to NS, but mild adverse events were more frequent in the HS group. clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01777347.

Computerized Assessment of Wheezing in Children With Respiratory Syncytial Virus Bronchiolitis Before and After Hypertonic Saline Nebulization.

Studies suggest an effect of nebulized hypertonic saline solution on air-flow limitation in subjects with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis, but results are based on subjective scores of clinical severity and are not clear. In this observational study, we used a noninvasive computerized tool to quantify wheezing before and after nebulization with hypertonic saline in children admitted for RSV infection. Twenty-seven children (≤ 24 months old) admitted to the pediatric ward of the Medical Center Leeuwarden with polymerase chain reaction-confirmed RSV bronchiolitis were included. Subjects were simultaneously assessed both clinically and by computerized acoustic monitoring before and 15 min after treatment with nebulized hypertonic saline solution. Clinical assessment, defined by the Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument score, did not change after nebulization (n = 27, 5.0 vs 4.7, P = .17). Computerized acoustic monitoring showed no improvement in wheezing (n = 27, 3.4% vs 2.0%, P = .05) or inspiration/expiration ratio (0.85 vs 0.85, P = .93) after nebulization. Hypertonic saline nebulization does not improve air flow, as assessed by both clinical and computerized acoustic scores, in children admitted for RSV.

Nebulized Magnesium Sulfate in Acute Bronchiolitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

To assess the efficacy of nebulized magnesium sulfate as a bronchodilator in infants hospitalized with acute bronchiolitis. This three-center double masked randomized clinical trial comprised 120 children with moderate to severe bronchiolitis. They were randomly assigned into two groups: the first group was treated with nebulized magnesium sulfate (40 mg/kg) and nebulized epinephrine (0.1 ml/kg) and the second group (control) was treated with nebulized epinephrine (0.1 ml/kg). The primary outcome was the length of hospital stay. The use of oxygen, temperature, oxygen saturation (SPO2), pulse rate (PR), respiratory rate (RR) and respiratory distress assessment instrument (RDAI) score were measured in the beginning of the study and during hospitalization. The mean (SD) age of 120 infants was 5.1(± 2.6) mo and 60% were boys. The length of hospital stay was not different between the two groups (P > 0.01). Use of oxygen supplementation, SPO2 and vital signs were similar in the two groups. Improvement in RDAI score was significantly better in infants treated with nebulized magnesium sulfate than in the other group (P 0.01). Thus, in infants with acute bronchiolitis, the effect of nebulized magnesium sulfate is comparable to nebulized epinephrine. However nebulized magnesium sulfate can improve the clinical score so it may have additive effect to reduce symptoms during hospitalization.

Nebulized hypertonic saline for bronchiolitis: a randomized clinical trial.

Bronchiolitis is one of the most common and costly respiratory diseases in infants and young children. Previous studies have shown a potential benefit of nebulized hypertonic saline; however, its effect in the emergency department (ED) setting is unclear. To compare the effect of nebulized 3% hypertonic saline vs 0.9% normal saline on admission rate and length of stay in infants with bronchiolitis. We conducted a double-blind, randomized clinical trial during 3 consecutive bronchiolitis seasons from March 1, 2008, through April 30, 2011. We recruited a convenience sample of patients younger than 24 months with a primary diagnosis of viral bronchiolitis presenting to the ED of 2 urban free-standing tertiary children's hospitals. We excluded patients who were premature (gestational age, <34 weeks) or who had chronic pulmonary disease, immune deficiency, cardiac disease, or previous episodes of wheezing or inhaled bronchodilator use. Of eligible patients who were approached, 161 (26.6%) declined to participate. Patients received 4 mL of 3% sodium chloride (hypertonic saline [HS group]) or 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline [NS group]) inhaled as many as 3 times in the ED. Those admitted received the assigned medication every 8 hours until discharge. All treatment solutions were premedicated with albuterol sulfate. Hospital admission rate, length of stay for admitted patients, and Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument score. A total of 197 patients were enrolled in the NS group and 211 in the HS group. Admission rate in the 3% HS group was 28.9% compared with 42.6% in the NS group (adjusted odds ratio from logistic regression, 0.49 [95% CI, 0.28-0.86]). Mean (SD) length of stay for hospitalized patients was 3.92 (5.24) days for the NS group and 3.16 (2.11) days for the HS group (P = .24). The Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument score decreased after treatment in both groups; however, we found no significant difference between groups (P = .35). Hypertonic saline given to children with bronchiolitis in the ED decreases hospital admissions. We can detect no significant difference in Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument score or length of stay between the HS and NS groups. clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00619918.

Nebulized hypertonic saline for bronchiolitis in the emergency department: a randomized clinical trial.

Acute bronchiolitis is the most frequent lower respiratory tract infection in infants, yet there are no effective therapies available. Current evidence is unclear about the role of hypertonic saline (HS) for the acute treatment of bronchiolitis. To determine whether nebulized 3% HS compared with normal saline (NS) improves respiratory distress in infants with bronchiolitis not responding to standard treatments in the emergency department. A randomized clinical trial with blinding of investigators, health care providers, and parents was conducted at a single urban pediatric ED. The participants included children aged 2 to less than 24 months with their first episode of bronchiolitis and a Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument score of 4 to 15 after nasal suctioning and a trial of nebulized albuterol. Patients were randomized to receive either nebulized 3% HS (HS group) or NS (NS group). The primary outcome was change in respiratory distress at 1 hour after the intervention, as measured by the Respiratory Assessment Change Score (a decrease indicates improvement). Secondary outcomes included vital signs, oxygen saturation, hospitalization, physician clinical impression, parental assessment, and adverse events. The 31 patients enrolled in each treatment arm had similar baseline demographic and clinical characteristics. At 1 hour after the intervention, the HS group demonstrated significantly less improvement in the median Respiratory Assessment Change Score compared with the NS group (HS, -1 [interquartile range, -5 to 1] vs. NS, -5 [interquartile range, -6 to -2]; P = .01). There were no significant differences in heart rate, oxygen saturation, hospitalization rate, or other outcomes. There were no adverse events. Infants with bronchiolitis and persistent respiratory distress after standard treatment in the emergency department had less improvement after receiving 3% HS compared with those who received NS. Based on these results and the existing evidence, administration of a single dose of 3% HS does not appear to be indicated to treat bronchiolitis in the acute care setting. clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01247064.

Effect of combined dexamethasone therapy with nebulized r-epinephrine or salbutamol in infants with bronchiolitis: A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

Background:This study investigated the effect of combining oral dexamethasone with either nebulized racemic epinephrine or salbutamol compared to bronchodilators alone for the treatment of infants with bronchiolitis.Materials and Methods:This was a double-blind, randomized controlled trial on infants (1 to 12 months) who were diagnosed in the emergency department with moderate-to-severe bronchiolitis. The primary outcome was the rate of hospital admission within 7 days of the first dose of treatment, and the secondary outcomes were changes in respiratory distress assessment instrument score, heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation (O2 Sat) over a 4-hour observation period. Infants (n = 162) were randomly assigned to four groups: A (dexamethasone + racemic epinephrine) = 45, B (placebo and racemic epinephrine) =39, C (dexamethasone and salbutamol) = 40, or D (placebo and salbutamol) = 38.Results:Patients who had received dexamethasone + epinephrine exhibited similar admission rates compared to placebo + epinephrine or salbutamol (P = 0.64). Similarly, no statistically significant difference was observed in the rate of hospitalization for patients who received dexamethasone + salbutamol compared to those who received placebo + epinephrine or salbutamol (P = 0.51). Clinical parameters were improved at the end of the 4-hour observation period for all treatment groups. Treatment with dexamethasone + epinephrine resulted in a statistically significant change in HR over time (P < 0.005) compared to the other groups.Conclusions:This study adds to a body of evidence suggesting that corticosteroids have no role in the management of bronchiolitis for young infants who are first time wheezers with no risk of atopy.

Comparative analysis of the effects of two chest physical therapy interventions in patients with bronchiolitis during hospitalization period.

Objective To evaluate and compare the effects of two chest physiotherapy interventions in patients hospitalized due to acute bronchiolitis.Methods Prospective randomized study with a sample of 83 calls for 29 patients aged between 3 months and 1 year hospitalized for acute bronchiolitis. Patients were distributed randomly into two groups: Group 1, submitted to postural drainage, tapping and tracheal aspiration; and Group 2, submitted to postural drainage, expiratory acceleration flow and tracheal aspiration. Assessments were made before and 10 and 60 minutes after the end of therapy. Patients also underwent drug treatment. The endpoint was to compare two physical therapy interventions as to clinical improvement in infants with acute bronchiolitis by means of oxygen saturation and the Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument score. The parents/guardians was requested to answer a questionnaire about the treatment applied before the last evaluation in order to measure their satisfaction related to the interventions made.Results The groups were similar regarding the use of antibiotics and bronchodilators. A greater number of patients used corticosteroids in Group 2. A relevant improvement was observed on Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument score with physical therapy, with reduction of the score 10 minutes after interventions, and the same score 60 minutes later, with no differences between techniques applied. There was no significant variation of pulse oximetry after chest physiotherapy. Most items assessed by the questionnaire had satisfactory answers.Conclusion No differences were observed between groups regarding the items assessed (time required to discharge from study, pulse oximetry in room air and disease severity according to the Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument score). Parents answered positively about the effects of therapy in the majority of items in the questionnaire, both for the expiratory acceleration flow technique and for tapping.

CLINICAL AND LABORATORY FEATURES OF ACUTE BRONCHIOLITIS IN CHILDREN AGED FROM 2 MONTHS TO 2 YEARS

Objectives and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study in 90 children aged from 2 months to 2 years old with acute bronchiolitis admitted to the Pediatric Departement, Hue Central Hospital from April 2010 to March 2011 was conducted to describe the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory features of RSV and non-RSV acute bronchiolitis, and to evaluate the correlation between RDAI (Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument) and the clinical and laboratory features. Results: The rate of RSV bronchiolitis was 23.33%. Most of patients were under 12 month of age. The most common symptoms were cough (100%), clear rhinorrhea (&gt; 85%) and wheezing (&gt; 78%). Fever was less common (&lt; 70%). The most common signs were tachypnea (&gt; 84%), wheezes (&gt; 90%), retractions (&gt; 78%), rhonchus (&gt; 78%), reduced breath sound (&gt; 61%). Coarse crackles were less common (&lt; 35%). RDAI score correlated negatively with ages (r= -0.595; p &lt;0.01); correlated positively with respiratory rate (r = 0.92; p &lt; 0.01). Mean RDAI score in children with reduced breath sound was significantly higher than in ones with normal breath sound (9.22 ± 4.36 vs. 7.37 ± 4.15; p &lt; 0.05). Mean RDAI score in children with hyperinflation on CXR was significantly higher than in ones with no hyperinflation on CXR (10.29 ± 3.97 vs. 6.66 ± 3.91; p &lt; 0.01). Conclusion: Differentiation between RSV bronchiolitis and non-RSV bronchiolitis is not necessary and not useful. The severity of acute bronchiolitis can be assessed by age, respiratory rate, breath sound, and sign of hyperinflation on CXR. Keywords: acute bronchiolitis, RDAI, children. Key words: Acute bronchiolitis, RDAI, children

Bronchiolitis

Bronchiolitis is a leading cause of infant hospitalization in the United States; the mean length of stay (LOS) is 3.3 days. We sought to identify the initial clinical characteristics of bronchiolitis associated with admission and with longer LOS in a large multicenter clinical trial. This study was a secondary analysis of a randomized trial conducted in 20 emergency departments in the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network. We examined age, sex, days of illness, Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument score, vital signs, and oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry (SpO(2)) at presentation in 598 infants aged 2 to 12 months with moderate to severe bronchiolitis. We used classification and regression tree and logistic regression analyses to identify associations with admission and longer LOS (defined as LOS > 1 night). Of the 598 infants, 240 (40%) were hospitalized; two thirds underwent longer LOS. The best predictor of hospitalization was initial SpO(2) value of less than 94%, followed by Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument score of greater than 11 and respiratory rate of greater than 60. For this model, the sensitivity was 56% (95% confidence interval, 50%-62%) and the specificity was 74% (95% confidence interval, 70%-79%). Among admitted patients, the only decision point for prediction of longer LOS was initial SpO(2) value of 97% or less. A model using objective findings had limited accuracy for predicting hospitalization after emergency department evaluation for bronchiolitis. In these infants with moderate to severe bronchiolitis, however, initial SpO(2) was the best predictor of hospital admission and of longer LOS. Efforts to better define and manage hypoxemia in bronchiolitis may be helpful.

Bronchiolitis in ED: Nebulized Hypertonic Saline/Epinephrine?

Source: Grewal S, Ali S, McConnell DW, et al. A randomized trial of nebulized 3% hypertonic saline with epinephrine in the treatment of acute bronchiolitis in the emergency department. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2009; 163:(11) 1007– 1012; doi: 10.1001/archpediatrics.2009.196To determine whether nebulized 3% hypertonic saline has a clinical benefit in infants with bronchiolitis, a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was performed in the emergency department (ED) on 46 infants with mild to moderate bronchiolitis. All patients were selected from the pediatric ED at Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Infants aged 6 weeks to 12 months seen with a first episode of wheezing, clinical symptoms of a viral respiratory infection, an initial oxygen saturation of 85%–96%, and an initial Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument (RDAI) score of 4 or higher were included in the study. The RDAI score ranges from 0 to 17 and is calculated based on wheezing type and location and retraction severity and location. Exclusion criteria included pre-existing cardiac or pulmonary disease, previous diagnosis of asthma by a physician, any use of bronchodilators prior to the current illness, language barrier, and no telephone access for follow-up.The selected infants were randomly assigned to receive either hypertonic saline containing 2.5 mL of 3% saline with 0.5 mL of 2.25% racemic epinephrine, or the same volume of normal saline (0.9% saline) with 2.25% racemic epinephrine. All were administered via a nebulizer driven by a 6 L/min flow of oxygen. A repeat dose could be given at the discretion of the ED physician. Measurements of oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, heart rate, and RDAI score were made immediately prior to administration of the aerosol, and at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after administration. One patient in each group withdrew or was dropped. Baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar with regard to age, gender, family history of asthma, smoke exposure, respiratory syncytial virus positivity (82.6% and 81.8%, respectively, for the hypertonic saline and normal saline groups), and baseline respiratory rate.A discretionary second dose was administered in 56% (13/23) of the hypertonic saline group and 48% (11/23) of the normal saline (control) group. No differences between the two groups in respiratory distress, oxygen saturation, or returns to the ED (3/23 vs 4/23) were apparent. Additionally, while a difference with regard to hospital admission was noted between the hypertonic saline group (8/23) and the normal saline group (13/23), this difference did not reach statistical significance.The authors conclude that 3% hypertonic saline did not demonstrate the effectiveness in this ED setting that had been demonstrated in inpatient studies.While this study was unable to identify a significant benefit from one or two doses of 3% hypertonic saline during a two-hour period, the results differ from those of an ambulatory study of infants with bronchiolitis seen at the Pediatric and Adolescent Ambulatory Community Clinic of General Health Services of Petach-Tikva, Israel,1 which found a significant decrease in symptoms during the first two days from three-times-daily use, a result similar to that seen in three inpatient studies included in a Cochrane review.2 While there was no decrease in the rate of hospitalization in that study, it was low (6%–9%) in both groups. The current study found fewer hospitalizations in the 3% hypertonic saline group. While the differences in hospitalization were not statistically significant, the possibility of a type 2 error (accepting the absence of a population difference based on a relatively small sample) must be considered.The data available from the various studies now support routine use of 3% hypertonic saline with either epinephrine or a β2 agonist such as albuterol in hospitalized patients with the expectation of more rapid clinical improvement and a one-day decrease in hospital stay. Use in the ED is not yet routinely justified, but a larger study powered to examine further the potential for decreasing hospitalizations would be needed. For infants not requiring hospitalization, more rapid improvement in symptoms from hypertonic saline must be weighed against the expense and inconvenience of three-times-daily use of an aerosol for a self-limited problem with a low likelihood of requiring repeat emergent care or hospitalization. Although not yet studied, it would be of interest to see if there is any benefit to using hypertonic saline in more severe bronchiolitis patients at risk for or requiring assisted ventilation.

Therapeutic approach to bronchiolitis: why pediatricians continue to overprescribe drugs?

BackgroundBronchiolitis guidelines suggest that neither bronchodilators nor corticosteroids, antiviral and antibacterial agents should be routinely used. Although recommendations, many clinicians persistently prescribe drugs for bronchiolitis.Aim of the studyTo unravel main reasons of pediatricians in prescribing drugs to infants with bronchiolitis, and to possibly correlate therapeutic choices to the severity of clinical presentation. Also possible influence of socially deprived condition on therapeutic choices is analyzed.MethodsPatients admitted to Pediatric Division of 2 main Hospitals of Naples because of bronchiolitis in winter season 2008-2009 were prospectively analyzed. An RDAI (Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument) score was assessed at different times from admission. Enrolment criteria were: age 1-12 months; 1st lower respiratory infection with cough and rhinitis with/without fever, wheezing, crackles, tachypnea, use of accessory muscles, and/or nasal flaring, low oxygen saturation, cyanosis. Social deprivation status was assessed by evaluating school graduation level of the origin area of the patients. A specific questionnaire was submitted to clinicians to unravel reasons of their therapeutic behavior.ResultsEighty-four children were enrolled in the study. Mean age was 3.5 months. Forty-four per cent of patients presented with increased respiratory rate, 70.2% with chest retractions, and 7.1% with low SaO2. Mean starting RDAI score was 8. Lung consolidation was found in 3.5% on chest roentgenogram. Data analysis also unraveled that 64.2% matched clinical admission criteria. Social deprivation status analysis revealed that 72.6% of patients were from areas "at social risk". Evaluation of length of stay vs. social deprivation status evidenced no difference between "at social risk" and "not at social risk" patients. Following therapeutic interventions were prescribed: nasal suction (64.2%), oxygen administration (7.1%), antibiotics (50%), corticosteroids (85.7%), bronchodilators (91.6%). Statistically significant association was not found for any used drug with neither RDAI score nor social deprivation status. The reasons of hospital pediatricians to prescribe drugs were mainly the perception of clinical severity of the disease, the clinical findings at chest examination, and the detection of some improvement after drug administration.ConclusionsWe strongly confirm the large use of drugs in bronchiolitis management by hospital pediatricians. Main reason of this wrong practice appears to be the fact that pediatricians recognize bronchiolitis as a severe condition, with consequent anxiety in curing so acutely ill children without drugs, and that sometimes they feel forced to prescribe drugs because of personal reassurance or parental pressure. We also found that social "at risk" condition represents a main reason for hospitalization, not correlated to clinical severity of the disease neither to drug prescription. Eventually, we suggest a "step-by-step" strategy to rich a more evidence based approach to bronchiolitis therapy, by adopting specific and shared resident guidelines.