Comparing nasal suction devices in children with bronchiolitis: A pilot randomized control trial

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Respiratory Medicine
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Bronchiolitis is a leading cause of infant hospitalization due to lower respiratory tract infections.
• Nasal suctioning is a common intervention for managing bronchiolitis symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of NoseFrida (over-the-counter) and NeoSucker (hospital-standard) nasal suction devices in hospitalized infants with bronchiolitis.
• To assess equivalence in length of hospital stay, readmission rates, and complications between the two devices.
• To evaluate parental satisfaction with the NoseFrida device.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled pilot study involving hospitalized children diagnosed with bronchiolitis.
• Comparison of length of stay within a ±5-hour equivalence margin.
• Assessment of readmission rates, associated complications, and parental satisfaction via a Likert scale survey.

Main Results:

• The mean length of stay was 33.5 ± 25.4 hours for NoseFrida and 31.0 ± 15.6 hours for NeoSucker, failing to demonstrate equivalence (p=0.352).
• Parental satisfaction with the NoseFrida device was generally high.
• Similar rates of deep suctioning and 48-hour readmissions were observed between the two groups.

Conclusions:

• While mean length of stay was comparable, the study's small sample size and high variability prevented establishing equivalence between NoseFrida and NeoSucker.
• Further research is warranted to determine the optimal use of these nasal suction devices in both inpatient and outpatient bronchiolitis management.