Abstract

KOFMAN, Carlos; TEPER, Alejandro; VIDAURRETA, Santiago  and  KOHLER, María T. Respuesta broncodilatadora al salbutamol administrado como aerosol presurizado mediante aerocámaras con válvulas o espaciadores no valvulados. Arch. argent. pediatr. [online]. 2006, vol.104, n.3, pp.196-202. ISSN 0325-0075.

Introduction. Inhalation therapy is the most frequent route for administration of asthma treatment. The utility of spacers added to metered dose inhalers (MDI) is well established. However, non-valved spacers have recently been proposed as equally effective as the valved holding chambers, and more cost-effective. Clinical efficacy of non-valved spacers is not well established yet. Objective. To compare the bronchodilator response to albuterol administered by MDI with a valved holding chamber vs. a non-valved spacer. Population, materials and methods. In an experimental, prospective, randomized, simple blind, parallel group study, 34 asthmatic children from 6 to 16 years old, with mild or moderate bronchial obstruction (forced expiratory volume in the first second, FEV₁, 50 to 79% of predicted) without recent treatment with bronchodilating agents were randomly assigned to be treated with 100 µg of albuterol MDI (Ventolin ^TM, MDI) either through a valved (Aerochamber^TM) or a non-valved (Aeromed^TM) spacer. After 30 minutes, bronchodilating response was determined through FEV₁ and FMF measurements. Results. 17 patients used the valved holding chamber (12 male, baseline FEV₁ 67 ± 10%) and 17, the non-valved spacer (13 male, baseline FEV₁ 67 ± 6%). Variation of FEV₁ was 26 ± 14% and 16±5% (p= 0.017) and variation of forced medium flow (FMF) was 92 ± 48% and 58 ± 29% (p< 0.018) for the valved holding chamber and for the non-valved spacer, respectively (ANOVA test). Conclusion. Albuterol administered by MDI through a valved spacer produced a greater bronchodilator response than through a non-valved spacer in asthmatic children.

Keywords : Spacers; Bronchodilator response; Asthma.

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