Aerosolized pharmacotherapy in the neonate

The use of aerosolized pharmacotherapy (inhalation therapy) in the intensive care nursery has been expanding since the first reports in the early 1980s. The potential benefits of this route of therapy include delivery of high concentrations of medicines directly to the respiratory system, avoiding the side effects of systemic administration. However, the anatomy and physiology of the newborn infant provide obstacles to inhalation therapy not encountered in older children and adults. A review of the literature reveals only limited data supporting the use of medications delivered by aerosolization in the neonate. A need for continued basic and clinical research in this area is apparent.