To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Helium Proves Better Than Oxygen for Opening Airways of Infants With Bronchiolitis: Presented at AAP URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/22EE3E.htm Doctor's Guide October 16, 2008
By Martha Kerr, BSN BOSTON, Mass -- October 16, 2008 -- Delivery of nebulised racemic epinephrine via helium followed by helium via nasal cannula results in a greater clinical improvement in critically ill young children with acute bronchiolitis than delivery by oxygen. Results of a randomised trial of 69 children with acute bronchiolitis were presented on October 10 at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2008 National Conference and Exhibition by In K. Kim, MD, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, Kentucky. Dr. Kim and colleagues compared the effects of 70%/30% helium/oxygen or 100% oxygen for delivery of nebulised racemic epinephrine and inhalation therapy in children 2 to 12 months old and diagnosed with bronchiolitis. The baseline Modified Wood's Clinical Bronchiolitis Score (M-WCBS) was 3 or greater after an initial treatment of nebulised albuterol, 2.5 mg, delivered via oxygen. Patients received nebulised racemic epinephrine, 11.25 mg, driven by helium or oxygen delivered via a nonrebreather. Patients were then randomised to either helium or oxygen delivered via nasal cannula. At the end of 60 minutes of inhalation therapy, patients who had M-WCBS scores of 2 or greater received a second dose of nebulised racemic epinephrine via nonrebreather followed by helium or gas therapy via nasal cannula, according to randomisation. The main outcome measure was improvement in clinical symptoms of bronchiolitis as assessed by M-WCBS scores at 60-minute intervals over 240 minutes or until discharge from the emergency department if discharge occurred within 240 minutes. Mean M-WCBS was significantly improved in the helium group compared with the oxygen group at 60 minutes (P = .005), 120 minutes (P < .001), and 180 minutes (P < .001). Mean change in M-WCBS score from baseline to 240 minutes or discharge was 1.84 for the helium group and 0.31 for the oxygen group (P < .001). "Nebulised racemic epinephrine delivered by helium followed by inhalation helium therapy delivered by nasal cannula was associated with a greater degree of clinical improvement compared to [epinephrine] delivered by oxygen among ill children with bronchiolitis," Dr. Kim reported. [Presentation title: Helium/Oxygen Improves Clinical Scores in the Treatment of Children With Bronchiolitis. Abstract 239] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.