SALBUTAMOL OR MIST IN ACUTE BRONCHIOLITIS

Background: The role of bronchodilators in the treatment of bronchioli tis remains controversial. Methods: A double-blind, placebo controlled trial was performed to evaluate the clinical response to nebulized sa lbutamol. One hundred and fifty-six infants aged between 7 weeks and 2 4 months who had had an episode of wheezing and other signs and sympto ms of bronchiolitis were randomized to three groups as follows: (i) ne bulized salbutamol was administered to 52 patients in group I at a dos e of 0.15 mg/kg in 2 mt saline; (ii) saline was nebulized to 52 patien ts in group II and (iii) in group III 52 patients received mist in a t ent. All three groups were administered oxygen during the procedures. Treatment was repealed with the same agent after 30 min if the respira tory score was 5 or more. Respiratory rate, heart rate, oxygen saturat ion and presence of cyanosis, wheezing, retractions were recorded befo re and after each treatment. Results: The decrease in the respiratory scare was 5.2 +/- 1.8, 0.82 +/- 2.4 and 1.7 +/- 1.3 in group I, II and III, respectively. The decrease in group I was significantly higher t han in the other groups. Heart rate was similar between groups. Oxygen saturation decreased in group I without reaching statistical signific ance. Conclusions: Salbutamol was shown to be effective and safe in th e treatment of acute bronchiolitis.