Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Randomized controlled trial of nebulized adrenaline in acute bronchiolitis.

Abstract

Use of both l-epinephrine and racemic epinephrine (adrenaline) has improved clinical symptoms and composite respiratory scores in acute bronchiolitis. The objective of this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study was to assess whether there was sufficient improvement in clinical state to reduce hospital admissions. Seventy-five infants aged 1 month to 1 year with a clinical diagnosis of acute bronchiolitis were treated with either 2 ml of 1:1000 nebulized adrenaline or 2 ml of nebulized normal saline administered after baseline assessment and 30 min later. Clinical respiratory parameters were recorded at 15-min intervals for a period of 2 h following the baseline assessment. Admission to hospital was the primary end-point and changes in respiratory parameters were secondary end-points. Fifty percent (19/38) of infants treated with adrenaline were discharged home compared with 38 percent (14/37) of those treated with saline. This 12 percent reduction in rate of admission is not statistically significant (95% CI of difference: -10% to 35%). There was no difference between treated and placebo groups in respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, heart rate or a composite respiratory distress score at 30, 60 or 120 min post-treatment. In this study, nebulized epinephrine did not confer a significant advantage over nebulized saline in the emergency room treatment of acute bronchiolitis.

Acceptance Date Jun 24, 2002
Publication Date Apr 4, 2003
Journal Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
Print ISSN 0905-6157
Publisher Wiley
Pages 134 - 139
DOI https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1399-3038.2003.00014.x
Publisher URL http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1034/j.1399-3038.2003.00014.x/abstract

Downloadable Citations