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Evaluating Regional Pulmonary Deposition using Patient-Specific 3D Printed Lung Models
07:56

Evaluating Regional Pulmonary Deposition using Patient-Specific 3D Printed Lung Models

Published on: November 11, 2020

Deposition of small particles in the developing lung

Israel Amirav1, Michael T Newhouse

  • 1Pediatric Department, Ziv Medical Center, Safed, Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel. amirav@012.net.il

Paediatric Respiratory Reviews
|April 6, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Infants and young children require specialized aerosol delivery systems. Smaller particles and patient-friendly devices may improve inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy effectiveness in this unique population.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric respiratory medicine
  • Pharmacology
  • Biomedical engineering

Background:

  • Infants and young children (0-3 years) exhibit unique anatomical, physiological, and emotional characteristics impacting respiratory tract development and aerosol delivery.
  • Current therapeutic aerosol studies, particularly for inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), often utilize large particles (>3 μm MMAD), designed for adults and older children.
  • Mask-based delivery systems, common for ICS, are frequently rejected by children under 3-4 years of age.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the challenges of aerosol delivery in infants and young children.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of large-particle aerosols in this pediatric subpopulation.
  • To propose the need for further research into smaller particle aerosols and improved delivery systems for pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on aerosol particle size, delivery devices, and their impact on infants and young children.
  • Analysis of anatomical, physiological, and emotional factors influencing aerosol deposition in the pediatric respiratory tract.
  • Comparison of aerosol characteristics used in adult studies versus those potentially suitable for infants and young children.

Main Results:

  • Large-particle aerosols (>3 μm MMAD) may be less effective for infants and young children due to their unique respiratory tract characteristics.
  • Existing delivery systems, often mask-based, present challenges related to patient acceptance and adherence in very young children.
  • The effectiveness of current inhaled medications in this age group warrants further investigation.

Conclusions:

  • Optimizing aerosol therapy for infants and young children necessitates considering their specific developmental stage.
  • Smaller particle aerosols and more patient-friendly delivery systems hold promise for improving therapeutic outcomes.
  • Further research is crucial to determine the optimal aerosol characteristics and delivery methods for effective pediatric respiratory treatment.

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