Randomized trial of salbutamol in acute bronchiolitis

J Pediatr. 1991 May;118(5):807-11. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(05)80051-4.

Abstract

To test whether nebulized salbutamol (albuterol) is safe and efficacious for the treatment of young children with acute bronchiolitis, we enrolled 83 children (median age 6 months, range 1 to 21 months) in a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Participants received two treatments at 30-minute intervals of either nebulized salbutamol (0.10 mg/kg in 2 ml 0.9% saline solution) or a similar volume of 0.9% saline solution placebo. Outcome measures were the respiratory rate, pulse oximetry, and a clinical score based on the degree of wheezing and retractions. Patients in the salbutamol arm had significantly greater improvement in clinical scores after the initial treatment (p = 0.04). There was no difference between the groups in oxygen saturation (p = 0.74); patients treated with salbutamol had a small increase in heart rate after two treatments (159 +/- 16 vs 151 +/- 16; p = 0.03). We conclude that salbutamol is safe and effective for the initial treatment of young children with acute bronchiolitis.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Albuterol / administration & dosage
  • Albuterol / adverse effects
  • Albuterol / therapeutic use*
  • Bronchiolitis / drug therapy*
  • Bronchiolitis / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Nebulizers and Vaporizers
  • Observer Variation
  • Respiratory Sounds / drug effects
  • Respiratory Syncytial Viruses
  • Respirovirus Infections / drug therapy
  • Respirovirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Albuterol