Helium–oxygen therapy benefited infants with bronchiolitis

Kim IK. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2011;165:1115-1122.

Nebulized racemic epinephrine delivered by helium–oxygen therapy, then followed with helium–oxygen inhalation with high-flow nasal cannula, positively benefited infants admitted to the hospital with bronchiolitis, according to a study published online.

In K. Kim, MD, MBA, of the department of pediatrics, University of Louisville Medical Center, and colleagues looked at 69 infants aged 2 to 12 months who were brought into their hospital’s ED with an asthma score of at least 3. The children presented between Oct. 1, 2004, and May 31, 2008, and received nebulized racemic epinephrine with a face mask and were randomly assigned to either the helium–oxygen (n=34) or oxygen group (n=35). “After nebulization, humidified helium–oxygen or oxygen was delivered by high-flow nasal cannula,” the researchers wrote.

They said the mean change in asthma scores “from baseline to 240 minutes or emergency department discharge was 1.84 for the helium–oxygen group compared with 0.31 for the oxygen group (P<.001).” There was a significant change in the helium–oxygen group compared with the oxygen group at 1 hour, 2 hours, 2.5 hours and 8 hours post-treatment.

According to the researchers, the study was underpowered to detect a difference in “ED discharge rates and length of stay.” Regardless, they said their findings suggest that “helium–oxygen may serve a future role as an adjunct therapy for severe bronchiolitis.”

Disclosure: The researchers report that the funding for the study was donated in part by Praxair Corp.

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