Improving efficiency of pediatric emergency asthma treatment by using metered dose inhaler

Acute Effects of Albuterol on Ventilatory Capacity in Children with Asthma

BACKGROUND

Children with asthma may have a reduced ventilatory capacity, which could lead to symptoms and early termination of a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of short-acting beta agonist (albuterol) administration on estimated ventilatory capacity in children with asthma.

METHODS

Fifteen children (eleven boys, 10.6 ± 0.9 years) completed spirometry at baseline, after 180 µg of albuterol, and after the CPET in this cross-sectional study. Ventilatory capacity was calculated from forced vital capacity (FVC) and isovolume forced expiratory time from 25 to 75% of FVC (isoFET25-75) as follows: FVC/2 × [60/(2 × isoFET25-75)]. Differences in outcome variables between baseline, after albuterol administration, and after the CPET were detected with repeated measures mixed models with Bonferroni post hoc corrections.

RESULTS

Estimated ventilatory capacity was higher after albuterol (68.7 ± 21.2 L/min) and after the CPET (75.8 ± 25.6 L/min) when compared with baseline (60.9 ± 22.0 L/min; P = 0.003). Because forced vital capacity did not change, the increased ventilatory capacity was primarily due to a decrease in isoFET25-75 (i.e., an increase in mid-flows or isoFEF25-75).

CONCLUSION

Albuterol administration could be considered prior to CPET for children with asthma with relatively well-preserved FEV1 values to increase ventilatory capacity pre-exercise and potentially avoid symptom-limited early termination of testing.

Improving Care at Emergency Department Discharge for Pediatric Patients with Anaphylaxis Using a Quality Improvement Framework

Introduction

Anaphylaxis is a potentially fatal systemic reaction that requires prompt recognition and targeted treatment. Despite international consensus and national guidelines, there is often incomplete care for pediatric patients discharged from the emergency department (ED) with a diagnosis of anaphylaxis. Our institution experienced wide variability in discharge planning for patients with anaphylaxis. The goal of our study was to improve care at ED discharge for pediatric patients with anaphylaxis using a quality improvement framework. The specific aims were to increase the frequency of patients diagnosed with anaphylaxis who receive an anaphylaxis action plan at ED discharge from 0% to 60% and to increase referrals to an allergy clinic from a baseline of 61%-80% between October 2020 and April 2021.

Methods

Targeted interventions included revisions to the electronic health record system, forging interdisciplinary partnerships and emphasizing provider education. Outcome measures were the proportion of patients receiving an anaphylaxis action plan and an allergy clinic follow-up. The balancing measure was the ED length of stay.

Results

The study showed an increase in anaphylaxis action plans from 0% to 34%. Allergy clinic referral rates improved from 61% to 82% within the same period. The average length of stay of 347 minutes remained unchanged.

Conclusions

Revising the discharge instructions to include an anaphylaxis action plan and reinforcing provider behaviors with educational interventions led to an overall improvement in discharge care for patients with anaphylaxis. Future work will focus on electronic health record changes to continue progress in additional clinical settings.

Nebulized albuterol delivery is associated with decreased skeletal muscle strength in comparison with metered-dose inhaler delivery among children with acute asthma exacerbations

OBJECTIVE

Albuterol is a β2-agonist and causes an intracellular shift of potassium from the interstitium. Whole-body hypokalemia is known to cause skeletal muscle weakness, but whether this occurs as a result of hypokalemia from the intracellular shift during albuterol treatment is unknown. We sought to determine if albuterol total dose or route of administration (nebulization and/or metered-dose inhaler) is associated with skeletal muscle weakness.

METHODS

This was a prospective observational study using convenience sampling. Skeletal muscle strength was measured before and after 1 hour of albuterol treatment using a hand-grip dynamometer in participants aged 5-17 years with acute asthma exacerbation in the emergency department. We examined associations of albuterol dose and route of administration with changes in grip strength.

RESULTS

Among 50 participants, 10 received continuous albuterol by nebulizer and 40 received albuterol by metered-dose inhaler. The median (interquartile range) in change of grip was -7.8% (interquartile range, -23.3, +5.1) for those treated with a nebulizer and +2.4% (interquartile range, -5%, +12.7%) for those treated with a metered-dose inhaler (P = 0.036 for the difference). In a multiple linear regression model adjusted for the pretreatment Acute Asthma Intensity Research Score and age, participants treated with a nebulizer had a 12.9% decrease in skeletal muscle strength compared with those treated with a metered-dose inhaler.

CONCLUSION

Higher doses of albuterol administered via nebulization result in decreased skeletal muscle strength in patients with acute asthma; whereas, albuterol administration via metered-dose inhalers showed no effect on skeletal muscle strength.

Metered-dose inhaler ipratropium bromide for children with acute asthma exacerbation: A prospective, non-randomized, observational study

BACKGROUND

Ipratropium bromide (IB), when administered with β2-agonists, is effective in reducing hospital admissions of children presenting to the emergency department (ED) with severe asthma. While IB is commonly delivered in its nebulized form, using a metered-dose inhaler (MDI), can, reportedly, shorten patients' length of stay in the ED. However, the effectiveness and safety of IB administration using an MDI with a spacer have not been established. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of MDI-delivered IB in pediatric patients with acute asthma exacerbation.

METHODS

This prospective, non-randomized, observational study included patients aged ≥4 years with a history of severe asthma exacerbation. Patients received IB via MDI with a spacer three times at 20-min intervals. IB use was determined by the physicians' treatment policy. Propensity score matching was used to adjust the confounding factors related to IB administration.

RESULTS

Of the 158 patients, 88 were treated with IB and 70 were treated without IB. A propensity score-matching analysis extracted 54 patients from each group. We found no statistical difference in the admission rate of the two groups (IB group: 25.9% vs non-IB group: 31.5%; P = 0.67). The post-treatment modified pulmonary index scores (mean ± SD) were also similar (IB: 6.6 ± 2.0 vs non-IB: 6.3 ± 2.5; P = 0.53). Only one patient (1.0%) treated with IB experienced vomiting, which resolved spontaneously.

CONCLUSION

The metered-dose inhaler IB was ineffective in reducing the admission rate possibly because it was less effective than a nebulizer for IB inhalation.

Patient reported outcomes for preschool children with recurrent wheeze

Children with preschool wheeze regularly attend UK emergency departments. There is no international consensus on any specific personalised management approach. This paper describes the first attempt to co-design patient-centred outcomes with families. Preschool wheezers' parents participated in semi-structured interviews and focus-group discussions to air their concerns and identify potential additional support. Fifty-seven families participated in these interviews. From these, themes were defined through qualitative content analysis. Parental experience was mapped to the patient pathway and seven important personalised outcomes were described. These can be used to inform a tool which following further validation could potentially support management of children with preschool wheeze and provide an additional patient focused clinical outcome measure in audit and research.