BRONCHODILATING EFFECT OF TERBUTALINE POWDER IN ACUTE SEVERE BRONCHIAL OBSTRUCTION

The bronchodilating effect of terbutaline dry powder inhaled via Turbu haler was compared with terbutaline inhaled via a conventional, chloro fluorocarbon (CFC) inhaler and Nebuhaler (750 mi spacer) in 68 consecu tive patients attending the emergency department with acute severe bro nchial obstruction. The study was of an open, randomized, parallel gro up design with one study day. Patients were treated with 2.5 mg of ter butaline 15 min apart, either as dry powder via Turbuhaler or with a C FC inhaler in conjunction with Nebuhaler. Data from 62 patients were a nalyzed. The mean baseline FEV(1) values were 0.81 L (SD, 0.64; range, 0.14 to 2.74 L) in the Turbuhaler group (n = 33), and 0.90 L (SD, 0.9 0; range, 0.27 to 2.60 L) in the Nebuhaler group (n = 29). The mean in creases in FEV(1) from baseline were 0.40 L (SD, 0.40; range, 0.06 to 2.36 L) and 0.21 L (SD, 0.25; range, - 0.05 to 0.95 L) 10 min after th e last inhalation via Turbuhaler and Nebuhaler, respectively. The diff erence between mean values of the increase in FEV(1) after terbutaline treatment with Turbuhaler and the CFC inhaler and Nebuhaler was stati stically significant (p = 0.0004, ANOVA). This study showed that inhal ation of terbutaline via Turbuhaler produced a significantly greater i ncrease in FEV(1) compared with the same dose of terbutaline administe red via the CFC inhaler and Nebuhaler in patients attending the emerge ncy department with acute severe bronchial obstruction.