A RANDOMIZED TRIAL COMPARING THE EFFICACY OF EPINEPHRINE WITH SALBUTAMOL IN THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE BRONCHIOLITIS

This randomized, double-blind trial compared the efficacy of nebulized epinephrine with salbutamol in the treatment of infants with acute br onchiolitis. The mean percent oxygen saturation at 60 minutes was sign ificantly higher in the epinephrine group. Thirty-three percent of the patients in epinephrine group were admitted to the hospital compared with 81% of the salbutamol group (p = 0.003). We conclude that nebuliz ed epinephrine is more efficacious than salbutamol for infants with ac ute bronchiolitis seen in an emergency department.