Wearing a noseclip improves nebulised aerosol delivery

Objective: The efficiency of nebulised aerosol delivery is limited due to d rug retained within the nebuliser, and due to a poor ratio between inspirat ory drug delivery and expiratory drug loss. Several technical approaches ha ve improved the ratio between inspiratory aerosol delivery and expiratory a erosol loss. In our pilot study we aimed to investigate if wearing a nosecl ip during inhalation therapy improves the inspiratory versus expiratory rat io and hence, improves nebulised aerosol delivery. Methods: Drug delivery was measured in hi,teen subjects (7 males; age range 23-36 years) inhaling in random order nebulised aerosol through a mouthpie ce once while wearing a noseclip and once without. Results: Wearing a noseclip leads to an increase of 113% (SEM 23.5) in drug delivery and improves the inspiratory versus expiratory ratio (ratio 2.07 versus 0.75). Conclusions: We have shown that aerosol delivery is increased due to an imp roved inspiratory versus expiratory ratio when wearing a noseclip.