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Hypertonic Saline and Acute Wheezing in Preschool Children Full Text
Pediatrics, 06/04/2012
Ater D et al. – Using HS inhalations significantly shortens LOS and lowers AR in preschool children presenting with an acute wheezing episode to the emergency department.
Methods- Randomized, controlled, double-blind study. Forty-one children presented with wheezing to the emergency department were randomized after 1 albuterol inhalation to receive either 4 mL of hypertonic saline 5% or 4 mL of normal saline (NS) (n = 25), both with 0.5 mL albuterol, twice every 20 minutes in the emergency department and 4 times a day thereafter if hospitalized.
- The primary outcome measured was length of stay (LOS) and the secondary outcomes were admission rate (AR) and clinical severity score.
- The LOS was significantly shorter in the HS than in the NS group: median 2 days (range 0–6) versus 3 days (range 0–5) days (P = .027).
- The AR was significantly lower in the HS than the NS group: 62.2% versus 92%.
- Clinical severity score improved significantly in both groups but did not reach significance between them.