[Intravenous terbutaline in children]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
• Pharmacology
• Respiratory Medicine

Background:

• Severe lower airway obstruction in children often requires advanced treatment strategies.
• Intravenous beta-2 adrenergic agonists are used for bronchodilation in critical care settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravenous terbutaline in pediatric patients with severe lower airway obstruction.
• To analyze dosage, administration, and associated phenomena of IV terbutaline in a PICU setting.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 367 PICU admissions during winter 1995.
• Analysis of 38 patients treated with intravenous terbutaline, focusing on infusion rates, duration, blood gases, and potassium levels.
• Comparison of treatment parameters between patients under and over 12 months of age.

Main Results:

• 38 patients (10.3%) received IV terbutaline for a mean of 7.24 days.
• A transient increase in heart rate (over 180 bpm) occurred in 31.5% of patients, preventing dose escalation but without pathological findings.
• Significant but clinically irrelevant decrease in serum potassium observed in infants under 1 year.

Conclusions:

• Intravenous terbutaline is a safe therapeutic option for children with severe lower airway obstruction unresponsive to conventional treatment.
• Adherence to administration criteria and monitoring protocols minimizes risks associated with IV terbutaline use in pediatric patients.
• IV terbutaline demonstrates excellent therapeutic potential in managing severe pediatric lower airway obstruction.