Intravenous salbutamol for childhood asthma: evidence-based medicine?

Intravenous salbutamol is commonly used to treat children with severe asthma unresponsive to inhaled β2-agonist therapy. However, in this setting, there is little clinical trial data demonstrating its effectiveness. Additionally, there are significant concerns that intravenous salbutamol-dosing reco...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of disease in childhood 2014-09, Vol.99 (9), p.873-877
Main Authors: Starkey, E S, Mulla, H, Sammons, H M, Pandya, H C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acute Disease
Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists - adverse effects
Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists - therapeutic use
Albuterol - adverse effects
Albuterol - therapeutic use
Asthma - drug therapy
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Child, Preschool
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma
Evidence-Based Medicine
General aspects
Humans
Infusions, Intravenous
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous
Pneumology
Prevention and actions
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Treatment Outcome
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Intravenous salbutamol is commonly used to treat children with severe asthma unresponsive to inhaled β2-agonist therapy. However, in this setting, there is little clinical trial data demonstrating its effectiveness. Additionally, there are significant concerns that intravenous salbutamol-dosing recommendations for children with acute asthma are excessive, and unnecessarily raise the potential for adverse reactions, such as lactic acidosis and tachycardia which, by increasing respiratory workload, exacerbate respiratory failure. Here, we review salbutamol clinical pharmacology and toxicology, evidence relating to its use in acute asthma and highlight gaps in the evidence base.
ISSN:0003-9888
1468-2044
DOI:10.1136/archdischild-2013-304467