Aerosolised hypertonic saline in hospitalized young children with acute bronchiolitis: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Year 2013, Volume: 5 , - , 01.02.2013

K Maheshkumar B Karunakara , Manjunath Nagalli , H Mallikarjuna

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of aerosolised 3% saline in hospitalised children with acute bronchiolitis.
Design: Prospective, randomized, double blinded clinical study.
Setting: Referral teaching hospital, from October 2007 to March 2009.
Patients: 40 children [age less than 2 yrs] were enrolled sequentially and randomized into 2 groups [20 each; Group- A - 3% saline and Group-B [Normal saline].
Intervention: 4 nebulizations [3% saline or normal saline] were given every day until discharge. Additional inhalations were recorded as add-on nebulisations. Severity was assessed using the clinical severity score daily. Children showing worsening of clinical scores {treatment failure} were dropped from the study.
Principal outcome measures: Reduction in clinical severity & the length of hospital stay. Minor outcome measures studied were number of add-on nebulisations required & treatment failure.
Results: The reduction in clinical severity scores was 1.8±0.83 in the 3% saline group and 1.7±0.86 in the normal saline group. The length of hospital stay was 2.25±0.89 days in 3% saline group compared to 2.88±1.76 days in the normal saline group. The number of add-on nebulisation was 2.4±4.1 in the normal saline group and 1.7±1.75 in the 3% saline group. These observations were not statistically significant. A significant difference was found in terms of treatment failures between the 2 groups [4 Vs 0] [p=0.03].
Conclusions: In hospitalized children with moderate acute bronchiolitis, aerosolized 3% saline is safe and prevented worsening of clinical symptoms but is not superior to normal saline in reducing the clinical severity and the length of hospital stay.
Key words: hypertonic saline; viral bronchiolitis.
Abbreviations: NS- normal saline; 3S- 3% saline; LOS- length of hospital stay.

Keywords

hypertonic saline; viral bronchiolitis.

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