Aerosol delivery to intubated patients

Area of Science:

• Respiratory medicine
• Pharmacology
• Medical technology

Background:

• Millions of patients require intubation annually in the USA, often for drug administration.
• Current drug delivery methods for intubated patients include gas, instillation, and increasingly, aerosol administration.
• Many aerosol administration practices for intubated patients are off-label due to a lack of approved drugs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the history and advancements in aerosol delivery to intubated patients.
• To explore methods for determining aerosol delivery efficiency.
• To identify variables impacting aerosol deposition and the evolution of related technologies.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major scientific databases (Cochrane, PubMed, Medline, Cinahl, Science Direct).
• The search covered historical and recent advancements in aerosol delivery from 1885 to January 2013.
• The review focused on methods, variables, and technologies influencing aerosol deposition.

Main Results:

• Aerosol deposition rates have significantly improved with the development of newer technologies.
• Modern techniques have increased aerosol deposition from a baseline of 1-3% to 30-60%.
• Improved deposition highlights the potential for enhanced therapeutic efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced aerosol deposition offers a promising avenue for treating critically ill patients.
• There is a significant unmet medical need for approved aerosolized drugs for intubated populations.
• Further development of inhaled medications is warranted to leverage improved delivery technologies.