A metal aerosol holding chamber devised for young children with asthma

H Bisgaard

94 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The low tidal volume and flow in preschool children may reduce the efficiency of aerosol delivery from a pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) through a traditional holding chamber. A prototype small-volume steel holding chamber with two one-way valves was devised to prolong aerosol availability in the chamber and to ensure unidirectional airflow. Dead space between the valves was minimized to less than 2 ml. The dose-delivery and rate of passive disappearance of a budesonide pMDI aerosol were compared between this prototype and the large-volume, single-valved plastic Nebuhaler, in 164 asthmatic children less than 8 yrs of age. In vitro, the half life of aerosol disappearance in the steel prototype and the plastic Nebuhaler was > 30 s and 9 s, respectively. In vivo, the prototype delivered an age-independent mean dose of 38% of the nominal dose, and the Nebuhaler delivered an age-dependent mean dose, ranging from 42% of the nominal dose in children > or = 4 yrs to 19% of the nominal dose in infants. We conclude that the use of plastic for holding chambers may influence dose-delivery, and single-valve control may cause age-dependent dose-delivery. Reproducible age-independent drug-delivery may be achieved by pMDI aerosol inhaled through a small-volume metal holding chamber with separate inlet and outlet valves and minimized dead space. This holding chamber would improve the possibilities of aerosol therapy for young children.

Original languageEnglish
JournalEuropean Respiratory Journal
Volume8
Issue number5
Pages (from-to)856-60
Number of pages5
ISSN0903-1936
Publication statusPublished - May 1995

Keywords

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Aerosols
  • Asthma
  • Bronchodilator Agents
  • Budesonide
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Equipment Design
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Nebulizers and Vaporizers
  • Pregnenediones
  • Single-Blind Method
  • Steel

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