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[Usefulness of breath actuated devices in asthmatic children with bronchial obstruction]

Waldemar Tomalak1, Zbigniew Doniec

  • 1Zakładu Fizjopatologii Układu Oddechowego oraz Instytutu Gruźlicy i Chorób Płuc, Oddział w Rabce Zdroju. wtomalak@zpigichp.edu.pl

Wiadomosci Lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland : 1960)
|May 2, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Asthmatic children can use various inhalers, but the Easi Breathe device most effectively achieves the necessary peak inspiratory flow rate (PIFR). All tested inhalers were usable, regardless of bronchial obstruction severity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Respiratory Device Technology

Context:

  • Clinical efficacy of breath-actuated inhalers relies on adequate peak inspiratory flow (PIF).
  • Asthmatic children with bronchial obturation may have difficulty achieving optimal PIF.
  • Assessing PIF Rate (PIFR) is crucial for selecting appropriate inhaler devices.

Purpose:

  • To evaluate the Peak Inspiratory Flow Rate (PIFR) in children with asthma and bronchial obturation.
  • To compare PIFR achieved with four different inhaler devices: Turbuhaler, Discus, Easi Breathe, and Autohaler.
  • To determine the usability of these devices in pediatric asthma patients with varying degrees of airway obstruction.

Summary:

  • Thirty-five children (average age 11.5 years) with asthma and bronchial obturation had their PIFR measured using an InCheck device with specific resistance valves and spirometry.
  • The Easi Breathe inhaler allowed the highest maximal PIFR (PIFRmax) in 69% of children, significantly more than Autohaler (9%) and Discus (6.5%). No children reached PIFRmax with Turbuhaler.
  • All children could generate minimal and optimal PIFR for all devices, irrespective of bronchial obstruction severity. A significant correlation existed between spirometric PIF and device-specific PIFR.

Impact:

  • The study confirms that all four tested inhaler devices are suitable for use by children with bronchial obstruction.
  • The Easi Breathe inhaler demonstrated the highest and most frequent achievement of maximal PIFR among the tested devices.
  • Findings support informed selection of inhaler devices to optimize medication delivery in pediatric asthma patients.

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