A standard method of intermittent inhaled therapy via a jet nebulizer

Current methods of inhaled therapy using gas-propelled nebulizers lack standardization. The frequent use of nebulized therapy in a continuous flow may be the major reason for the inconsistency of the actual fraction of nebulized drug delivered to the patient. In an effort to achieve consistency in the amount of drug delivered to the patient, we evaluated an intermittent system of nebulized therapy, using a fingertip controlled nebulizer, in 18 adolescent asthmatics. This mode of delivery was found to be highly efficient, providing a nebulized fraction of more than 70% of the initial volumes used (0.75 to 2.6 mL). Initial volumes of 0.9 mL and above were equally efficacious, indicating no further benefit of using higher volumes. Nebulized fractions were found to be highly consistent from one patient to another (+/- 1 SD of 14.1%). We conclude that control of the actual dose delivered to the patient can be best achieved through an intermittent mode of delivery.