Randomised comparison of intravenous magnesium sulphate, terbutaline and aminophylline for children with acute severe asthma

Practice Patterns for Acute Asthma Exacerbation in Adult Patients Admitted to U.S. Intensive Care Units

Rationale: Guidelines recommend systemic corticosteroids and inhaled β-agonists for patients with severe asthma exacerbation who are admitted to intensive care units. The benefits and utilization of adjunct treatments after guideline-recommended first-line treatments have been initiated are unclear. Objectives: Examine practice patterns of adjunct interventions in US intensive care units (ICUs) and their associations with outcomes for adults with severe asthma exacerbations. Methods: Using the multicenter PINC AI Healthcare Database of Premier Inc. (2016-2022), we sought to explore the use of adjunct interventions (medications [e.g., magnesium, leukotriene inhibitors, terbutaline, heliox] and procedures [e.g., invasive and noninvasive mechanical ventilation]) for adult patients admitted to U.S. ICUs with acute asthma exacerbations. We used hierarchical generalized linear models to calculate risk-adjusted rates of adjunct interventions and quantified between-hospital variation in adjunct interventions using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC; higher values correspond to higher between-hospital variation). We then used K-means clustering to identify groups of hospitals with similar risk-adjusted practice profiles of all adjunct treatments and examined associations between identified hospital clusters and patient outcomes. Results: We identified 62,392 patients from 961 hospitals for inclusion. Adjunct interventions with the highest between-hospital variation after risk adjustment were heliox (ICC, 91%), inhaled steroids (ICC, 23%), invasive mechanical ventilation (ICC, 21%), terbutaline (ICC, 22%), paralytics (ICC, 16%), and noninvasive ventilation (ICC, 15%). K-means clustering identified two distinct hospital clusters: Patients who were admitted to Cluster 1 hospitals (399 hospitals) had higher risk-adjusted rates of noninvasive ventilation (51% vs. 33%), compared with patients who were admitted to Cluster 2 hospitals (234 hospitals), which had higher risk-adjusted rates of invasive mechanical ventilation (63% vs. 30%). Cluster 2 was associated with fewer hospital-free days (β = -0.75 d; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.95, -0.55) and increased in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 1.28; 95% CI = 1.17, 1.40). Conclusions: The use of adjunct interventions for patients with severe asthma exacerbations vary widely across U.S. hospitals; however, hospitals generally fall into two clusters differentiated primarily by the use of invasive or noninvasive mechanical ventilation. The cluster favoring noninvasive mechanical ventilation was associated with improved outcomes. Our results help to inform usual-care arms of future comparative effectiveness studies and efforts to standardize asthma practice.

Status Asthmaticus in the Pediatric ICU: A Comprehensive Review of Management and Challenges

This narrative review addresses the significant burden of pediatric status asthmaticus, which comprises almost 20% of admissions to pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). It highlights the diverse modalities employed in the PICU for managing this life-threatening condition, and thoroughly discusses the literature in support of or against these treatment modalities.

Intravenous magnesium sulfate for asthma exacerbations in children: Systematic review with meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Asthma is the most prevalent chronic disease in children and constitutes a significant healthcare burden. First-line therapy for acute asthma exacerbations is well established. However, secondary treatments, including intravenous magnesium sulfate (IV-MgSO4), remain variable due to scarcity of data on its efficacy and safety.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effectiveness and safety of IV-MgSO4 as a second line of treatment in managing children with asthma exacerbations.

METHODS

We searched five databases from inception until April 2023 on randomized clinical trials of IV-MgSO4 in children with acute asthma exacerbations. The primary outcomes were hospitalization rate and length, and change in the severity score. Secondary outcomes included percentage increase in peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), hospital re-admission rate, need and length for pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) treatment, and adverse effects. Meta-analysis was performed for three outcomes with estimated odds ratios (ORs) or mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

Eleven studies met the final criteria. In comparison to control, administration of IV-MgSO4 was associated with a reduced hospitalization risk (OR 0.15; 95%CI: 0.03, 0.73) in four studies, and improvement of lung function (MD 26.77% PEFR; 95%CI: 18.41, 54.79) in two studies. There were no significant differences in the length of stay between groups. Due to heterogeneity, a narrative synthesis of other outcomes was performed.

CONCLUSION

The use of IV-MgSO4 demonstrated a reduction in the hospitalization rate and PEFR improvement in children with asthma exacerbations. Adverse effects were rare. Further well-designed studies are needed to better determine the efficacy and safety profile of IV-MgSO4.

Effect of magnesium sulfate on oxygenation and lung mechanics in morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery: a prospective double-blind randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Respiratory mechanics are often significantly altered in morbidly obese patients and magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) is a promising agent for managing several respiratory disorders. This study aimed to examine the effects of MgSO4 infusions on arterial oxygenation and lung mechanics in patients with morbid obesity undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery.

METHODS

Forty patients with morbid obesity aged 21-60 years scheduled for laparoscopic bariatric surgery under general anesthesia were randomly allocated to either the control (normal saline infusion) or MgSO4 group (30 mg/kg lean body weight [LBW] of 10% MgSO4 in 100 ml normal saline intravenously over 30 min as a loading dose, followed by 10 mg/kg LBW/h for 90 min). The primary outcome was intraoperative arterial oxygenation (ΔPaO2/FiO2). Secondary outcomes included intraoperative static and dynamic compliance, dead space, and hemodynamic parameters.

RESULTS

At 90 min intraoperatively, the Δ PaO2/FiO2 ratio and the Δ dynamic lung compliance were statistically significantly higher in the MgSO4 group (mean ± SE: 16.1 ± 1.0, 95% CI [14.1, 18.1] and 8.4 ± 0.5 ml/cmH2O, 95% CI [7.4, 9.4]), respectively), and the Δ dead space (%) was statistically significantly lower in the MgSO4 group (mean ± SE: -8.0 ± 0.3%, 95% CI [-8.6, -7.4]) (P < 0.001). No significant differences in static compliance were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Although MgSO4 significantly preserved arterial oxygenation and maintained dynamic lung compliance and dead space in patients with morbid obesity, the clinical relevance is minimal. This study failed to adequately reflect the clinical importance of these results.

Is intravenous magnesium sulphate safe to be administered outside the critical care setting?

AIM

To review current evidence regarding the safety of intravenous bolus magnesium sulphate for the treatment of children with acute severe asthma in the non-critical care setting.

METHODS

MEDLINE via Ovid, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched for relevant articles.

RESULTS

Four hundred and eighteen articles were identified during the initial search after removal of duplicates. Eighty full-text articles were selected for review and 16 included as relevant to the clinical question.

CONCLUSIONS

Current evidence suggests that bolus intravenous magnesium sulphate is safe to be administered in non-critical care settings provided that line of sight nursing and cardiorespiratory monitoring are available.

Safety and Effectiveness of Prolonged Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO4) Infusion for Asthma Exacerbation in Children

The objective of this study was to assess the safety and describe treatment details of prolonged magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) infusion for children with asthma exacerbation. A retrospective cross-sectional study included children under 13 years of age who were admitted with asthma exacerbation and received at least 24 hours of MgSO4 infusion. One hundred children were included. No patient developed serious adverse events. The mean infusion duration was 74.2 hours. Eighty-nine percent recovered with no other bronchodilator infusions, and 94% did not require respiratory support escalation. Prolonged MgSO4 infusion is safe at a maximum dose of 30 mg/kg/h and may be beneficial for children with asthma exacerbation.

Stating the obvious: intravenous magnesium sulphate should be the first parenteral bronchodilator in paediatric asthma exacerbations unresponsive to first-line therapy

What is the most appropriate second-line intravenous bronchodilator treatment when a child with a severe asthma attack is not responsive to initial inhaled therapy? The second-line treatment options for acute asthma include parenteral β₂-agonists, methylxanthine and magnesium sulphate (MgSO₄). There is a poor evidence-base to inform this decision. This review argues that intravenous MgSO₄ is the obvious treatment of choice for this situation as the initial treatment based on current knowledge.  We describe the mode of action, scope and limitations of MgSO₄, safety profile, economic impact, comparisons of the alternatives, and finally, what the guidelines say.  This review explores the suitability of intravenous MgSO₄ as a pragmatic and safe initial second-line therapy for children unresponsive to initial asthma management.

Nebulized Magnesium Sulphate in Bronchiolitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nebulized magnesium sulphate as a bronchodilator in young children aged 1-24 mo with moderate to severe bronchiolitis in comparison to standard therapy.

METHODS

This was an open labeled randomized controlled trial comprising 60 children with moderate to severe bronchiolitis which was randomly assigned to 2 groups. Intervention group received nebulization with 3 mL of 3.2% magnesium sulphate (MgSO₄) (iso-osmolar) every 4 hourly for 24 h in addition to standard care and the control group received standard care alone. The primary outcome measure was to compare the improvement of bronchiolitis severity score (BSS) and length of hospitalization. The secondary outcome was to measure the need for noninvasive ventilation, need for admission to intensive care unit (ICU) in the initial visit, to evaluate the safety of magnesium sulphate and need for clinic revisit, hospital readmission and ICU readmission within 2 wk after discharge in both the groups.

RESULTS

The mean age of children allocated in the control group was 7.4 ± 5.1 mo and 7.7 ± 4.5 mo in the intervention group. There was no significant difference with respect to improvement of BSS or reduced length of hospitalization in both the groups (p > 0.05). BSS monitored sequentially after enrollment at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 24 h did not show statistically significant differences between the groups. Mean length of hospital stay was 2.89 ± 2.25 d in treatment group and 2.96 ± 1.86 d in control group (p = 0.902). No adverse events were observed in both the groups.

CONCLUSION

Nebulized magnesium sulphate is not superior to standard therapy in children with moderate to severe bronchiolitis.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

CTRI/2018/06/014400.

Use of magnesium sulfate in continuous infusion in patients with severe acute asthma, in a pediatric emergency room

INTRODUCTION

Asthma is a chronic disease, of high prevalence, with important morbidity and that can lead to death in childhood. The use of intravenous magnesium sulfate has been indicated in cases refractory to the initial management with inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the use of magnesium sulfate in continuous infusion (50 mg/kg/h in 4 h) in children with severe acute asthma in a pediatric emergency room.

LOCATION

Ten-bed general pediatric emergency room, university hospital, tertiary, in southern Brazil.

PATIENTS

All children over 2 years old with severe acute asthma refractory to the initial treatment who received a continuous infusion of magnesium sulfate at a dose of 50 mg/kg/h in 4 h, from April 2017 to October 2019.

CONCLUSION

Based on this study, the use of continuous intravenous magnesium sulfate proved to be well tolerated, leading to improved respiratory status, and can be considered as a satisfactory adjunctive therapy in the management of severe acute asthma.

Overview of severe asthma, with emphasis on pediatric patients: a review for practitioners

Asthma is the most common life-threatening chronic disease in children. Although guidelines exist for the diagnosis and treatment of asthma, treatment of severe, pediatric asthma remains difficult. Limited studies in the pediatric population on new asthma therapies, complex issues with adolescence and adherence, health disparities, and unequal access to guideline-based care complicate the care of children with severe, persistent asthma. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of asthma, including asthma subtypes, comorbidities, and risk factors, to discuss diagnostic considerations and pitfalls and existing treatments, and then present existing and emerging therapeutic approaches to asthma management. An improved understanding of asthma heterogeneity, clinical characteristics, inflammatory patterns, and pathobiology can help further guide the management of severe asthma in children. More studies are needed in the pediatric population to understand emerging therapeutics application in children. Effective multimodal strategies tailored to individual characteristics and a commitment to address risk factors, modifiers, and health disparities may help reduce the burden of asthma in the USA.

Treating acute severe asthma attacks in children: using aminophylline

Aminophylline does have a role in treating severe asthma attacks in children with asthma. Clinicians just need to be aware of the toxic side-effects of the drug and manage the drug carefully. https://bit.ly/3o7IJV1.

Interventions for escalation of therapy for acute exacerbations of asthma in children: an overview of Cochrane Reviews

BACKGROUND

Asthma is an illness that commonly affects adults and children, and it serves as a common reason for children to attend emergency departments. An asthma exacerbation is characterised by acute or subacute worsening of shortness of breath, cough, wheezing, and chest tightness and may be triggered by viral respiratory infection, poor compliance with usual medication, a change in the weather, or exposure to allergens or irritants. Most children with asthma have mild or moderate exacerbations and respond well to first-line therapy (inhaled short-acting beta-agonists and systemic corticosteroids). However, the best treatment for the small proportion of seriously ill children who do not respond to first-line therapy is not well understood. Currently, a large number of treatment options are available and there is wide variation in management.

OBJECTIVES

Main objective - To summarise Cochrane Reviews with or without meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials on the efficacy and safety of second-line treatment for children with acute exacerbations of asthma (i.e. after first-line treatments, titrated oxygen delivery, and administration of intermittent inhaled short-acting beta₂-agonists and oral corticosteroids have been tried and have failed) Secondary objectives - To identify gaps in the current evidence base that will inform recommendations for future research and subsequent Cochrane Reviews - To categorise information on reported outcome measures used in trials of escalation of treatment for acute exacerbations of asthma in children, and to make recommendations for development and reporting of standard outcomes in future trials and reviews - To identify relevant randomised controlled trials that have been published since the date of publication of each included review METHODS: We included Cochrane Reviews assessing interventions for children with acute exacerbations of asthma. We searched the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The search is current to 28 December 2019. We also identified trials that were potentially eligible for, but were not currently included in, published reviews. We assessed the quality of included reviews using the ROBIS criteria (tool used to assess risk of bias in systematic reviews). We presented an evidence synthesis of data from reviews alongside an evidence map of clinical trials. Primary outcomes were length of stay, hospital admission, intensive care unit admission, and adverse effects. We summarised all findings in the text and reported data for each outcome in 'Additional tables'.

MAIN RESULTS

We identified 17 potentially eligible Cochrane Reviews but extracted data from, and rated the quality of, 13 reviews that reported results for children alone. We excluded four reviews as one did not include any randomised controlled trials (RCTs), one did not provide subgroup data for children, and the last two had been updated and replaced by subsequent reviews. The 13 reviews included 67 trials; the number of trials in each review ranged from a single trial up to 27 trials. The vast majority of comparisons included between one and three trials, involving fewer than 100 participants. The total number of participants included in reviews ranged from 40 to 2630. All studies included children; 16 (24%) included children younger than two years of age. Most of the reviews reported search dates older than four years. We have summarised the published evidence as outlined in Cochrane Reviews. Key findings, in terms of our primary outcomes, are that (1) intravenous magnesium sulfate was the only intervention shown to reduce hospital length of stay (high-certainty evidence); (2) no evidence suggested that any intervention reduced the risk of intensive care admission (low- to very low-certainty evidence); (3) the risk of hospital admission was reduced by the addition of inhaled anticholinergic agents to inhaled beta₂-agonists (moderate-certainty evidence), the use of intravenous magnesium sulfate (high-certainty evidence), and the use of inhaled heliox (low-certainty evidence); (4) the addition of inhaled magnesium sulfate to usual bronchodilator therapy appears to reduce serious adverse events during hospital admission (moderate-certainty evidence); (5) aminophylline increased vomiting compared to placebo (moderate-certainty evidence) and increased nausea and nausea/vomiting compared to intravenous beta₂-agonists (low-certainty evidence); and (6) the addition of anticholinergic therapy to short-acting beta₂-agonists appeared to reduce the risk of nausea (high-certainty evidence) and tremor (moderate-certainty evidence) but not vomiting (low-certainty evidence). We considered 4 of the 13 reviews to be at high risk of bias based on the ROBIS framework. In all cases, this was due to concerns regarding identification and selection of studies. The certainty of evidence varied widely (by review and also by outcome) and ranged from very low to high.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

This overview provides the most up-to-date evidence on interventions for escalation of therapy for acute exacerbations of asthma in children from Cochrane Reviews of randomised controlled trials. A vast majority of comparisons involved between one and three trials and fewer than 100 participants, making it difficult to assess the balance between benefits and potential harms. Due to the lack of comparative studies between various treatment options, we are unable to make firm practice recommendations. Intravenous magnesium sulfate appears to reduce both hospital length of stay and the risk of hospital admission. Hospital admission is also reduced with the addition of inhaled anticholinergic agents to inhaled beta₂-agonists. However, further research is required to determine which patients are most likely to benefit from these therapies. Due to the relatively rare incidence of acute severe paediatric asthma, multi-centre research will be required to generate high-quality evidence. A number of existing Cochrane Reviews should be updated, and we recommend that a new review be conducted on the use of high-flow nasal oxygen therapy. Important priorities include development of an internationally agreed core outcome set for future trials in acute severe asthma exacerbations and determination of clinically important differences in these outcomes, which can then inform adequately powered future trials.

Efficacy of Magnesium Sulfate Treatment in Children with Acute Asthma

OBJECTIVE

Systemic administration of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) has been proposed as a treatment for pediatric patients with acute asthma. However, previous trials show mixed results and uncertain evidence of benefit. The aim of the study was to ascertain whether intravenous (IV) MgSO4 improves lung function parameters in children with acute asthma.

METHODS

This was a prospective clinical trial. All patients with acute asthma received 40-50 mg/kg or maximum 1,500 mg (>30 kg) of single dose IV MgSO4, administered over 60 min. Spirometry was conducted before and 15 min after MgSO4 infusion.

RESULTS

One hundred and fifteen children aged 6 to 17 years presenting with acute asthma and FEV1 between 40% and 75% of predicted were included. Then, the patients were classified into 2 groups; mild asthma attack (FEV1 ranged from 60% to 75%; n = 50) or moderate asthma attack (FEV1 ranged from 40% to 59%; n = 65). The baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. The mean percent predicted pre and post values for FEV1/FVC ratio (mild group: 82.59 ± 9.46 vs. 85.06 ± 8.95; moderate group: 77.31 ± 11.17 vs. 79.99 ± 11.77), FEV1 (mild group: 67.14 ± 4.99 vs. 72.29 ± 8.05; moderate group: 48.50 ± 6.81 vs. 53.78 ± 9.81), PEF (mild group: 65.49 ± 12.32 vs. 71.37 ± 12.96; moderate group: 47.56 ± 11.78 vs. 51.97 ± 13.98), and FEF25-75 (mild group: 58.20 ± 12.24 vs. 66.57 ± 16.95; moderate group: 37.77 ± 11.37 vs. 43.41 ± 14.19) showed a statistically significant (p < 0.05 for all) bronchodilator effect after MgSO4 infusion in both groups with few side effects.

CONCLUSION

Administration of IV MgSO4 was associated with improved pulmonary function in children with acute asthma.

An Assessment of Asthma Therapy in the Pediatric ICU

OBJECTIVES

To describe asthma management, investigate practice variation, and describe asthma-associated charges and resource use during asthma management in the PICU.

METHODS

Children ages 2 to 18 years treated for status asthmaticus in the PICU from 2008 to 2011 are included in this study. This is a retrospective, single-center, cohort study. Data were collected by using the Intermountain Healthcare Enterprise Data Warehouse.

RESULTS

There were 262 patients included and grouped by maximal respiratory support intervention. Seventy percent of the patients did not receive escalation of respiratory support beyond nasal cannula or nonrebreather mask, and the majority of these patients received only first-tier recommended therapy. For all patients, medical imaging and laboratory charge fractions accounted for <3% and <5% of the total charges, respectively. Among nonintubated patients, the majority of these diagnostic test results were normal. Fifteen patients were intubated during our study period; 4 were intubated at our facility. Compared with outside hospital intubations, these 4 patients had longer time to intubation (>3 days versus <24 hours) and significantly longer median PICU length of stay (12.7 days versus 2.6 days).

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, the vast majority of patients with severe asthma were treated with minimal interventions alone (nasal cannula or nonrebreather mask and first-tier medications). Minimizing PICU length of stay is likely the most successful way to decrease expense during asthma care.

The Differences in Acute Management of Asthma in Adults and Children

Acute asthma or wheeze is a common presentation to emergency services for both adults and children. Although there are phenotypic differences between asthma syndromes, the management of acute symptoms follow similar lines. This article looks at the similarities and differences in approaches for children and adults. Some of these may be age dependent, such as the physiological parameters used to define the severity of the attack or the use of age appropriate inhaler devices. Other differences may reflect the availability of evidence. In other areas there is conflicting evidence between adult and pediatric studies such as a temporary increase in dose of inhaled corticosteroids during an acute attack. Overall there are more similarities than differences.

The role of oral magnesium supplements for the management of stable bronchial asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by airway inflammation and hyper-responsiveness of airway smooth muscles. There is growing evidence that magnesium may have a role in managing asthma through its dual effect as an anti-inflammatory and bronchodilating agent. To assess the efficacy of oral magnesium supplements in chronic asthmatic patients. In addition to searching through Clinicaltrials.gov/ and references for oral magnesium supplement studies, we performed a database search in Medline, CINAHL, CENTRAL, and Embase. We contacted the authors of the included trials to ask for additional information. We included randomized controlled trials that compared oral magnesium supplements versus placebo, in addition to standard asthma treatment in mild-moderate asthmatic adults and children (older than 6 years). Two reviewers independently performed the study selection, data abstraction, and the assessment of the risk of bias. Eight trials at moderate risk of bias enrolling a total of 917 patients were included. Oral magnesium improved FEV1 at week 8 (5.69 (L/min); 95% CI: 1.92, 9.46; I2: 45%). There was no significant improvement in FEV1 at other follow up periods. There was no significant change in FVC, Methacholine challenge test, the frequency of bronchodilator use, or symptoms score. There were no data on mortality or quality of life. Oral magnesium supplements may lead to improvement in FEV1 that was only demonstrated at eight weeks; but no effect on any other outcome. Until future evidence emerges, oral magnesium cannot be recommended as adjuvants to standard treatment for mild to moderate asthmatic individuals.

Variability of outcome measures in trials of intravenous therapy in acute severe paediatric asthma: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To determine the variability of primary and secondary outcomes used in trials of intravenous bronchodilators in children with acute severe paediatric asthma.

METHODS

Systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform for randomised trials in children (less than18 years) with acute severe paediatric asthma comparing intravenous bronchodilator therapy to another treatment. Initial search was performed on 7 January 2016 with an updated search performed on 6 September 2018. Primary and secondary outcomes were collated.

RESULTS

We identified 35 published papers and four registered study protocols. 56 primary outcomes were found, the most common being a clinical asthma score (23/56; 41%). Other identified primary outcomes included bedside tests of respiratory function (11/56; 20%) and measures of length of stay (9/56; 16%). There were a total of 60 different secondary outcomes, the most common were various length of stay measures (24/60; 40%) and adverse events (11/60; 18%).

CONCLUSION

Studies comparing intravenous treatment modalities for children with acute severe paediatric asthma exhibit great variation in the type, number and timing of outcome measures used. There are no patient or family-specific outcomes reported. There is a need to develop international consensus.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42017055331.

The effectiveness of magnesium sulfate for status asthmaticus outside the intensive care setting

AIM

Magnesium is an adjunctive therapy used in patients with status asthmaticus who do not respond to conventional therapy. The optimal time from initiation of therapy, to determination of response and administration of magnesium has not yet been resolved. Our objective was to determine if magnesium administered in the non-intensive care setting can decrease duration of continuous albuterol and hospital length of stay.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of children ages 2-18 years admitted to the pediatric unit on continuous albuterol between January 2014 and December 2015 in a tertiary care children's hospital. Cohorts were matched on respiratory assessment score (RAS) obtained at a similar duration of albuterol therapy and evaluated for the total duration of continuous albuterol, length of stay (LOS), and adverse events.

RESULTS

Thirty-three patients who received magnesium were matched to 33 patients with the same RAS at a similar duration of continuous albuterol therapy who did not receive magnesium. Those who received magnesium had longer duration on continuous albuterol (34 vs 18 h; P = 0.001; 95% confidence interval [CI] 4-20; effect size 0.41) and longer LOS (72 vs 49 h; P = 0.037; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1-33; effect size 0.26) than those who did not receive magnesium.

CONCLUSION

Children requiring continuous albuterol for status asthmaticus can be administered magnesium sulfate outside the PICU with a low incidence of adverse events; however, among a RAS matched cohort, those who received magnesium did not experience shorter time on continuous albuterol, or hospital length of stay.

Guideline on management of the acute asthma attack in children by Italian Society of Pediatrics

BACKGROUND

Acute asthma attack is a frequent condition in children. It is one of the most common reasons for emergency department (ED) visit and hospitalization. Appropriate care is fundamental, considering both the high prevalence of asthma in children, and its life-threatening risks. Italian Society of Pediatrics recently issued a guideline on the management of acute asthma attack in children over age 2, in ambulatory and emergency department settings.

METHODS

The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology was adopted. A literature search was performed using the Cochrane Library and Medline/PubMed databases, retrieving studies in English or Italian and including children over age 2 year.

RESULTS

Inhaled ß2 agonists are the first line drugs for acute asthma attack in children. Ipratropium bromide should be added in moderate/severe attacks. Early use of systemic steroids is associated with reduced risk of ED visits and hospitalization. High doses of inhaled steroids should not replace systemic steroids. Aminophylline use should be avoided in mild/moderate attacks. Weak evidence supports its use in life-threatening attacks. Epinephrine should not be used in the treatment of acute asthma for its lower cost / benefit ratio, compared to β2 agonists. Intravenous magnesium solphate could be used in children with severe attacks and/or forced expiratory volume1 (FEV1) lower than 60% predicted, unresponsive to initial inhaled therapy. Heliox could be administered in life-threatening attacks. Leukotriene receptor antagonists are not recommended.

CONCLUSIONS

This Guideline is expected to be a useful resource in managing acute asthma attacks in children over age 2.

Intravenous magnesium sulfate for acute wheezing in young children: a randomised double-blind trial

Magnesium sulfate has been shown to be an effective treatment in older children with asthma exacerbations, but it has not been investigated in acute severe virus-induced wheezing in young children.The study enrolled 61 children aged 6 months to 4 years. Inclusion criteria were severe wheezing, classified as a score of ≥6 points as assessed by the Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument (RDAI) after initial treatment with salbutamol, and the symptoms of acute viral infection. The children were randomly allocated to receive either an infusion of magnesium sulfate (40 mg·kg^-1) or 0.9% sodium chloride as a placebo infusion for 20 min. Primary outcome measure was mean change in RDAI scores from baseline to 6 h after the treatment.Change in the severity of wheezing from baseline to 6 h after the treatment, as measured by mean±sd RDAI scores, was 4.7±2.6 in the magnesium sulfate group and 4.2±4.2 in the placebo group (difference 0.5, 95% CI -1.3 to 2.3, p=0.594).Intravenous magnesium sulfate was ineffective in treating acute severe virus-induced wheezing in young children, in contrast to the previous efficacy demonstrated in older children.

Efficacy and side effects of intravenous theophylline in acute asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Theophylline has been used for decades to treat both acute and chronic asthma. Despite its longevity in the practitioner's formulary, no detailed meta-analysis has been performed to determine the conditions, including concomitant medications, under which theophylline should be used for acute exacerbations of asthma. We aimed to quantify the usefulness and side effects of theophylline with or without ethylene diamine (aminophylline) in acute asthma, with particular emphasis on patient subgroups, such as children, adults, and concomitant medications.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the WHO Clinical Trials Registry for randomized, controlled clinical trials. We planned a priori subgroup analyses by time post-medication, concomitant medication, control type, and age.

RESULTS

We included 52 study arms from 42 individual trials. Of these, 29 study arms included an active control, such as adrenaline, beta-2 agonists, or leukotriene receptor antagonists, and 23 study arms compared theophylline (with or without ethylene diamine) with placebo or no drug. Theophylline significantly reduced heart rate when compared with active control (p=0.01) and overall duration of stay (p=0.002), but beta-2 agonists were superior to theophylline at improving forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (p=0.002). Theophylline was not significantly different from other drugs in its effects on respiratory rate, forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow rate, admission rate, use of rescue medication, oxygen saturation, or symptom score. Closer examination of the data revealed that the medications given in addition to theophylline or control significantly changed the effectiveness of theophylline (subgroup difference: p<0.00001).

CONCLUSION

Given the low cost of theophylline, and its similar efficacy and rate of side effects compared with other drugs, we suggest that theophylline, when given with bronchodilators with or without steroids, is a cost-effective and safe choice for acute asthma exacerbations.

Adjunctive Pharmacotherapies in Children With Asthma Exacerbations Requiring Continuous Albuterol Therapy: Findings From The Ohio Pediatric Asthma Repository

OBJECTIVES

To identify associations between use of ipratropium and/or intravenous magnesium and outcomes of children hospitalized with acute asthma exacerbations and treated with continuous albuterol.

METHODS

Secondary analysis of data from children prospectively enrolled in the multicenter Ohio Pediatric Asthma Repository restricted to only children who were treated with continuous albuterol in their initial inpatient location. Children were treated with adjunctive therapies per the clinical team.

RESULTS

Among 242 children who received continuous albuterol, 94 (39%) received ipratropium only, 13 (5%) received magnesium alone, 42 (17%) received both, and 93 (38%) received neither. The median duration of continuous albuterol was 7.0 (interquartile range [IQR]: 2.8-12.0) hours. Ipratropium use was associated with a shorter duration of continuous albuterol (4.9 [IQR: 2.0-10.0] hours) compared with dual therapy (11.0 [IQR: 5.6-28.6] hours; P = .001), but magnesium use was not (7.5 [IQR: 2.5-16.0] hours; P = .542). In Cox proportional models (adjusted for hospital, demographics, treatment location, and respiratory failure), magnesium was associated with longer durations of continuous albuterol (hazard ratio, 0.54 [95% confidence interval: 0.37-0.77]; P < .001) and hospitalization (hazard ratio, 0.41 [95% confidence interval: 0.28-0.60]; P < .001), but ipratropium was not.

CONCLUSIONS

Ipratropium and magnesium were both often used in children with severe asthma hospitalizations that required continuous albuterol therapy. Magnesium use was associated with unfavorable outcomes, possibly reflecting preferential treatment to patients with more severe cases and differing practices between centers. Given the high prevalence of asthma, wide variations in practice, and the potential to improve outcomes and costs, prospective trials of these adjunctive therapies are needed.

Optimizing the Dosing of Intravenous Theophylline in Acute Severe Asthma in Children

Optimizing the management of children presenting with acute severe asthma is of utmost importance to minimize hospital stays, morbidity, and mortality. Intravenous medications, including theophyllines, are used as second-line treatments for children experiencing a life-threatening exacerbation. For intravenous theophylline (aminophylline), guidelines and formularies recommend a target therapeutic range between 10 and 20 mg/l, with the commonest regimen being a loading dose of 5 mg/kg followed by an infusion calculated by age and weight. This review assesses the evidence underpinning these recommendations, highlighting the shortcomings in our understanding of the association between serum concentrations achieved, dose given, and clinical improvement experienced. To close the knowledge gap and improve outcomes for children presenting with acute severe asthma, we propose a series of research strategies to improve the assessment of illness severity, ascertain the optimal dose to maximize benefit and minimize risk, prospectively collect adverse events, and to better understand the inter-individual variation in responses to treatments.

Inhaled magnesium sulfate in the treatment of acute asthma

BACKGROUND

Asthma exacerbations can be frequent and range in severity from mild to life-threatening. The use of magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄) is one of numerous treatment options available during acute exacerbations. While the efficacy of intravenous MgSO₄ has been demonstrated, the role of inhaled MgSO₄ is less clear.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the efficacy and safety of inhaled MgSO₄ administered in acute asthma.

SPECIFIC AIMS

to quantify the effects of inhaled MgSO₄ I) in addition to combination treatment with inhaled β₂-agonist and ipratropium bromide; ii) in addition to inhaled β₂-agonist; and iii) in comparison to inhaled β₂-agonist.

SEARCH METHODS

We identified randomised controlled trials (RCTs) from the Cochrane Airways Group register of trials and online trials registries in September 2017. We supplemented these with searches of the reference lists of published studies and by contact with trialists.

SELECTION CRITERIA

RCTs including adults or children with acute asthma were eligible for inclusion in the review. We included studies if patients were treated with nebulised MgSO₄ alone or in combination with β₂-agonist or ipratropium bromide or both, and were compared with the same co-intervention alone or inactive control.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently assessed trial selection, data extraction and risk of bias. We made efforts to collect missing data from authors. We present results, with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs), as mean differences (MDs) or standardised mean differences (SMDs) for pulmonary function, clinical severity scores and vital signs; and risk ratios (RRs) for hospital admission. We used risk differences (RDs) to analyse adverse events because events were rare.

MAIN RESULTS

Twenty-five trials (43 references) of varying methodological quality were eligible; they included 2907 randomised patients (2777 patients completed). Nine of the 25 included studies involved adults; four included adult and paediatric patients; eight studies enrolled paediatric patients; and in the remaining four studies the age of participants was not stated. The design, definitions, intervention and outcomes were different in all 25 studies; this heterogeneity made direct comparisons difficult. The quality of the evidence presented ranged from high to very low, with most outcomes graded as low or very low. This was largely due to concerns about the methodological quality of the included studies and imprecision in the pooled effect estimates. Inhaled magnesium sulfate in addition to inhaled β₂-agonist and ipratropiumWe included seven studies in this comparison. Although some individual studies reported improvement in lung function indices favouring the intervention group, results were inconsistent overall and the largest study reporting this outcome found no between-group difference at 60 minutes (MD -0.3 % predicted peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), 95% CI -2.71% to 2.11%). Admissions to hospital at initial presentation may be reduced by the addition of inhaled magnesium sulfate (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.00; participants = 1308; studies = 4; I² = 52%) but no difference was detected for re-admissions or escalation of care to ITU/HDU. Serious adverse events during admission were rare. There was no difference between groups for all adverse events during admission (RD 0.01, 95% CI -0.03 to 0.05; participants = 1197; studies = 2). Inhaled magnesium sulfate in addition to inhaled β₂-agonistWe included 13 studies in this comparison. Although some individual studies reported improvement in lung function indices favouring the intervention group, none of the pooled results showed a conclusive benefit as measured by FEV1 or PEFR. Pooled results for hospital admission showed a point estimate that favoured the combination of MgSO₄ and β₂-agonist, but the confidence interval includes the possibility of admissions increasing in the intervention group (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.52 to 1.15; participants = 375; studies = 6; I² = 0%). There were no serious adverse events reported by any of the included studies and no between-group difference for all adverse events (RD -0.01, 95% CI -0.05 to 0.03; participants = 694; studies = 5). Inhaled magnesium sulfate versus inhaled β₂-agonistWe included four studies in this comparison. The evidence for the efficacy of β₂-agonists in acute asthma is well-established and therefore this could be considered a historical comparison. Two studies reported a benefit of β₂-agonist over MgSO₄ alone for PEFR and two studies reported no difference; we did not pool these results. Admissions to hospital were only reported by one small study and events were rare, leading to an uncertain result. No serious adverse events were reported in any of the studies in this comparison; one small study reported mild to moderate adverse events but the result is imprecise.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with nebulised MgSO₄ may result in modest additional benefits for lung function and hospital admission when added to inhaled β₂-agonists and ipratropium bromide, but our confidence in the evidence is low and there remains substantial uncertainty. The recent large, well-designed trials have generally not demonstrated clinically important benefits. Nebulised MgSO₄ does not appear to be associated with an increase in serious adverse events. Individual studies suggest that those with more severe attacks and attacks of shorter duration may experience a greater benefit but further research into subgroups is warranted.Despite including 24 trials in this review update we were unable to pool data for all outcomes of interest and this has limited the strength of the conclusions reached. A core outcomes set for studies in acute asthma is needed. This is particularly important in paediatric studies where measuring lung function at the time of an exacerbation may not be possible. Placebo-controlled trials in patients not responding to standard maximal treatment, including inhaled β₂-agonists and ipratropium bromide and systemic steroids, may help establish if nebulised MgSO₄ has a role in acute asthma. However, the accumulating evidence suggests that a substantial benefit may be unlikely.

Magnesium sulfate infusion for acute asthma in the emergency department

OBJECTIVES

To describe the role of intravenous magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄) as therapy for acute severe asthma in the pediatric emergency department (ED).

SOURCE

Publications were searched in the PubMed and Cochrane databases using the following keywords: magnesium AND asthma AND children AND clinical trial. A total of 53 publications were retrieved using this criteria. References of relevant articles were also screened. The authors included the summary of relevant publications where intravenous magnesium sulfate was studied in children (age <18 years) with acute asthma. The NAEPP and Global Initiative for Asthma expert panel guidelines were also reviewed.

SUMMARY OF THE DATA

There is a large variability in the ED practices on the intravenous administration of MgSO₄ for severe asthma. The pharmacokinetics of MgSO₄ is often not taken into account with a consequent impact in its pharmacodynamics properties. The cumulative evidence points to the effectiveness of intravenous MgSO₄ in preventing hospitalization, if utilized in a timely manner and at an appropriate dosage (50-75mg/kg). For every five children treated in the ED, one hospital admission could be prevented. Another administration modality is a high-dose continuous magnesium sulfate infusion (HDMI) as 50mg/kg/h/4h (200mg/kg/4h). The early utilization of HDMI for non-infectious mediated asthma may be superior to a MgSO₄ bolus in avoiding admissions and expediting discharges from the ED. HDMI appears to be cost-effective if applied early to a selected population. Intravenous MgSO₄ has a similar safety profile than other asthma therapies.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with intravenous MgSO₄ reduces the odds of hospital admissions. The use of intravenous MgSO₄ in the emergency room was not associated with significant side effects or harm. The authors emphasize the role of MgSO₄ as an adjunctive therapy, while corticosteroids and beta agonist remain the primary acute therapeutic agents.

Magnesium sulfate in pediatric anesthesia: the Super Adjuvant

Magnesium is an essential chemical element in all organisms, intervening in most cellular enzymatic reactions; thus, its importance in homeostasis and as a therapeutic tool in highly challenging patients such as pediatrics. The primary purpose of this paper was to review the role of magnesium sulfate as an adjuvant drug in pediatric anesthesia. This compound already has the scientific backing in certain aspects such as analgesia or muscle relaxation, but only theoretical or empirical backing in others such as organ protection or inflammation, where it seems to be promising. The multitude of potential applications in pediatric anesthesia, its high safety, and low cost make magnesium sulfate could be considered a Super Adjuvant.

Optimizing the use of intravenous magnesium sulfate for acute asthma treatment in children

BACKGROUND

Asthma is the most common pediatric chronic disease and currently affects 7.1 million children in the United States. Many children experience acute asthma exacerbations. Many children also require hospitalization despite treatment in an emergency department with current standard therapy (corticosteroids, albuterol, and ipratropium). These hospitalizations may be avoided if effective adjunctive therapies can be developed to adequately treat severe exacerbations.

METHODS

Publications were searched in the PubMed database using the following keywords: magnesium AND asthma AND children AND randomized controlled trial. A total of 30 publications were returned. References of relevant articles were also screened. We included publications of controlled randomized trials where intravenous magnesium sulfate was studied in children (age < 18 years) with acute asthma (n = 7). We excluded studies in adults or trials with other formulations of magnesium (e.g., nebulized).

RESULTS

Previous studies have demonstrated that intravenous magnesium sulfate (IV MgSO₄ ) significantly improves respiratory function and reduces hospitalization rate in children with moderate to severe asthma exacerbations. Current dosing regimens involve a short infusion of 25-75 mg/kg over 20 min (maximum 2-2.5 g/dose), though no studies have directly compared dosages for relative efficacy. Several studies suggest utilizing a peak plasma concentration of magnesium higher than 4 mg/dL as a surrogate of efficacy. This review summarizes the literature regarding the use of IV MgSO₄ for the treatment of pediatric acute asthma.

CONCLUSIONS

We suggest that optimized dosing regimens could be developed using a linked pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling and simulation approach. We propose the factors that should be considered in future clinical trial design in order to better understand the use of IV MgSO₄ in pediatric acute asthma. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2016;51:1414-1421. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Aminophylline Dosage In Asthma Exacerbations in Children: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Adequate asthma treatment of childhood exacerbations with IV aminophylline depends on appropriate dosage. Recommendations to aim for a target therapeutic range may be inappropriate as serum concentrations correlate poorly with clinical improvement. This review aims to evaluate the evidence for the optimum dosage strategy of intravenous aminophylline in children suffering an exacerbation of asthma.

METHODS

A systematic review comparing dosage regimens of intravenous aminophylline in children suffering an exacerbation of asthma. Primary outcomes were time until resolution of symptoms, mortality and need for mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcomes were date until discharge criteria are met, actual discharge and adverse effects.

DATA SOURCES

CENTRAL, CINAHL, MEDLINE and Web of Science. Search performed in March 2016.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Studies using intravenous aminophylline in children with an acute exacerbation of asthma which reported the dosage and clinical outcomes.

FINDINGS

14 RCTs were included. There is a poor relationship between the dosage administered to children and symptom resolution, length of stay or need for mechanical ventilation. This study is limited due to its use of indirect evidence.

CONCLUSION

The currently recommended dosage regimens may not represent the optimum safety and efficacy of intravenous aminophylline. There is a need to develop the evidence base correlating dosage with patient centered clinical outcomes, to improve prescribing practices.

Comparison of Two High-Dose Magnesium Infusion Regimens in the Treatment of Status Asthmaticus

OBJECTIVES

To determine the feasibility and safety of a simplified high-dose magnesium sulfate infusion (sHDMI) for the treatment of status asthmaticus.

METHODS

We retrospectively compared 2 different high-dose magnesium sulfate infusion regimens, as adjunctive treatment in status asthmatics, using data that were preciously collected. The initial high-dose, prolonged magnesium infusion (HDMI) regimen consisted of a loading dose of 75 mg/kg (weight ≤ 30 kg) or 50 mg/kg (weight > 30 kg) over a period of 30 to 45 minutes followed by a continuous infusion of 40 mg/kg/hr for an additional 4 hours. This was compared to the sHDMI regimen that consisted of 50 mg/kg/hr for 5 hours. No loading dose was given to the patients in the sHDMI arm. Obese patients were dosed by using ideal body weight. Physiologic parameters (i.e., heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation) and serum magnesium (SrMg) concentrations were monitored during administration of magnesium sulfate.

RESULTS

Nineteen patients receiving the initial HDMI regimen were compared with 10 patients who received the sHDMI regimen. There was no significant difference in SrMg concentrations or physiologic parameters between the 2 dose regimens.

CONCLUSIONS

The HDMI and sHDMI regimens both produced SrMg concentrations that are associated with bronchodilation. The safety profile was also similar for the 2 regimens. The unambiguity of sHDMI has the potential to reduce medication errors that are associated with calculation of the loading dose, product preparation, and ultimate administration.

Intravenous magnesium sulfate for treating children with acute asthma in the emergency department

BACKGROUND

Acute asthma in children can be life-threatening and must be treated promptly in the emergency setting. Intravenous magnesium sulfate is recommended by various guidelines for cases of acute asthma that have not responded to first-line treatment with bronchodilators and steroids. The treatment has recently been shown to reduce the need for hospital admission for adults compared with placebo, but it is unclear whether it is equally effective for children.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the safety and efficacy of intravenous magnesium sulfate (IV MgSO4) in children treated for acute asthma in the emergency department (ED).

SEARCH METHODS

We identified studies by searching the Cochrane Airways Review Group Specialised Register up to 23 February 2016. We also searched ClinicalTrials.gov and reference lists of other reviews, and we contacted study authors to ask for additional information.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials of children treated in the ED for exacerbations of asthma if they compared any dose of IV MgSO4 with placebo.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors screened the results of the search and independently extracted data from studies meeting the inclusion criteria. We resolved disagreements through discussion and contacted study authors in cases of missing data and other uncertainties relating to the studies.We analysed dichotomous data as odds ratios and continuous data as mean differences, both using fixed-effect models. We assessed each study for risk of bias and rated the quality of evidence for each outcome with GRADE and presented the results in a 'Summary of findings' table. There was insufficient evidence to conduct the planned subgroup analyses.

MAIN RESULTS

Five studies (182 children) met the inclusion criteria, and four contributed data to at least one meta-analysis. The included studies were overall at low risk of bias, but our confidence in the evidence was generally low, mainly due to the small sample sizes. Treatment with IV MgSO4 reduced the odds of admission to hospital by 68% (odds ratio (OR) 0.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.14 to 0.74; children = 115; studies = 3; I(2) = 63%). This result was based on data from just three studies including 115 children. Meta-analysis for the secondary outcomes was extremely limited by paucity of data. We performed meta-analysis for the outcome 'return to the emergency department within 48 hours', which showed a very imprecise effect estimate that was not statistically significant (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.02 to 10.30; children = 85; studies = 2; I(2) = 0%). Side effects and adverse events were not consistently reported and meta-analysis was not possible, however few side effects or adverse events were reported.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

IV MgSO4 may reduce the need for hospital admission in children presenting to the ED with moderate to severe exacerbations of asthma, but the evidence is extremely limited by the number and size of studies. Few side effects of the treatment were reported, but the data were extremely limited.

High-Dose Magnesium Sulfate Infusion for Severe Asthma in the Emergency Department: Efficacy Study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy of a high-dose prolonged magnesium sulfate infusion in patients with severe, noninfectious-mediated asthma.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized, open-label study.

SETTING

Twenty-nine-bed pediatric emergency department located in a children's hospital in Asuncion, Paraguay.

PATIENTS

All patients of 6-16 years old who failed to improve after 2 hours of standard therapy for asthma.

INTERVENTIONS

Subjects were randomized to receive magnesium sulfate, 50 mg/kg over 1 hour (bolus) or high-dose prolonged magnesium sulfate infusion of 50 mg/kg/hr for 4 hours (max, 8.000 mg/4 hr). Patients were monitored for cardiorespiratory complications.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Asthma severity was assessed via asthma scores and peak expiratory flow rates at 0-2-6 hours. The primary outcome was discharge to home at 24 hours. An analysis of the hospital length of stay and costs was a secondary outcome. Thirty-eight patients were enrolled, 19 in each group. The groups were of similar ages, past medical history of asthma, asthma score, and peak expiratory flow rate. There was a significant difference in the patients discharged at 24 hours: 47% in high-dose prolonged magnesium sulfate infusion (9/19) versus 10% (2/21) in the bolus group (p = 0.032) with an absolute risk reduction 37% (95% CI, 10-63) and a number needed to treat of 2.7 (95% CI, 1.6-9.5) to facilitate a discharge at or before 24 hours. The length of stay was shorter in the high-dose prolonged magnesium sulfate infusion group (mean ± SD in hr: high-dose prolonged magnesium sulfate infusion, 34.13 ± 19.54; bolus, 48.05 ± 18.72; p = 0.013; 95% CI, 1.3-26.5). The cost per patient in the high-dose prolonged magnesium sulfate infusion group was one third lower than the bolus group (mean ± SD: high-dose prolonged magnesium sulfate infusion, $603.16 ± 338.47; bolus, $834.37 ± 306.73; p < 0.016). There were no interventions or discontinuations of magnesium sulfate due to adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

The early utilization of high-dose prolonged magnesium sulfate infusion (50 mg/kg/hr/4 hr), for non-infectious mediated asthma, expedites discharges from the emergency department with significant reduction in healthcare cost.

Acute severe asthma

Acute exacerbations of asthma are very common reasons for a presentation to emergency departments. This paper focuses on defining the high-risk group, consideration of the concept of phenotypes of acute asthma, the assessment of severe and life-threatening exacerbations and an emphasis on the management of the more severe end of the exacerbation severity. A number of evidence-based guidelines exist throughout the world and are all slightly different. This reflects the poor evidence base for some of those recommendations. Thus, a large variation of treatment drugs, doses and regimen are used and clearly not standardised. This paper aims to present a summary of the best evidence and discuss some of these controversies. The most important aspect of treating an exacerbation of acute asthma is to review regularly and assess response to treatment. Severe and life-threatening episodes should be treated with early use of intravenous treatment in a stepwise manner following the local guidelines. Non-invasive ventilation and high flow nasal cannulae delivery of oxygen in the emergency department are evolving modalities, but evidence for their use is currently limited.

Asthma changes at a pediatric intensive care unit after 10 years: Observational study

OBJECTIVES:

To describe the change in the management, and outcome of children with acute severe asthma (ASA) admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at tertiary institute, as compared to previously published report in 2003.

METHODS:

This is a retrospective observational study. All consecutive pediatric ASA patients who were admitted to PICU during the study period were included. The data were extracted from PICU database and medical records. The Cohort in this study (2013 Cohort) was compared with the Cohort of ASA, which was published in 2003 from the same institution (2003 Cohort).

RESULTS:

In comparison to previous 2003 Cohort, current Cohort (2013) revealed higher mean age (5.5 vs. 3.6 years; P ≤ 0.001), higher rate of PICU admission (20.3% vs. 3.6%; P ≤ 0.007), less patients who received maintenance inhaled steroids (43.3% vs. 62.4%; P ≤ 0.03), less patients with pH <7.3 (17.9% vs. 42.9%; P ≤ 0.001). There were more patients in 2013 Cohort who received: Inhaled Ipratropium bromide (97% vs. 68%; P ≤ 0.001), intravenous magnesium sulfate (68.2% vs. none), intravenous salbutamol (13.6% vs. 3.6%; P ≤ 0.015), and noninvasive ventilation (NIV) (35.8% vs. none) while no patients were treated with theophylline (none vs. 62.5%). The median length of stay (LOS) was 2 days while mean LOS was half a day longer in the 2013 Cohort. None of our patients required intubation, and there was no mortality.

CONCLUSION:

We observed slight shift toward older age, considerably increased the rate of PICU admission, increased utilization of Ipratropium bromide, magnesium sulfate, and NIV as important modalities of treatment.

Relaxant effects of a hydroalcoholic extract of Ruta graveolens on isolated rat tracheal rings

BACKGROUND

Ruta graveolens L. (R. graveolens) is a medicinal plant employed in non-traditional medicines that has various therapeutic properties, including anthelmintic, and vasodilatory actions, among others. We evaluated the trachea-relaxant effects of hydroalcoholic extract of R. graveolens against potassium chloride (KCl)- and carbachol-induced contraction of rat tracheal rings in an isolated organ bath.

RESULTS

The results showed that the airway smooth muscle contraction induced by the depolarizing agent (KCl) and cholinergic agonist (carbachol) was markedly reduced by R. graveolens in a concentration-dependent manner, with maximum values of 109 ± 7.9 % and 118 ± 2.6 %, respectively (changes in tension expressed as positive percentages of change in proportion to maximum contraction), at the concentration of 45 μg/mL (half-maximal inhibitory concentration IC50: 35.5 μg/mL and 27.8 μg/mL for KCl- and carbachol-induced contraction, respectively). Additionally, the presence of R. graveolens produced rightward parallel displacement of carbachol dose-response curves and reduced over 35 % of the maximum smooth muscle contraction.

CONCLUSIONS

The hydroalcoholic extract of R. graveolens exhibited relaxant activity on rat tracheal rings. The results suggest that the trachea-relaxant effect is mediated by a non-competitive antagonistic mechanism. More detailed studies are needed to identify the target of the inhibition, and to determine more precisely the pharmacological mechanisms involved in the observed biological effects.