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Home oxygen therapy reduced hospital admissions in select infants with bronchiolitis
Halstead S. Pediatrics. 2012;doi:10.1542/peds.2011-0889.
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Infants taken to the ED for uncomplicated bronchiolitis who were discharged with home oxygen treatment were less likely to be admitted to the hospital, according to a study published online.
Sarah Halstead, MD, and colleagues at the Children’s Hospital Colorado examined data from a retrospective chart review of 4,194 cases of bronchiolitis in children aged 1 to 18 months; of these patients, 57% were discharged on room air, 15% were discharged with home oxygen and 28% were admitted.
Of the 2,383 children discharged in room air, 4% returned to the hospital and were admitted compared with 6% of the 649 children discharged with oxygen. Researchers said there were no ICU admissions or need for advanced airway management in children discharged with oxygen. The study found that overall admission rates decreased from 40% to 31%.
Home oxygen protocol is only recommended for patients when there is no observed chronic cardiopulmonary disease for at least 8 hours with continuous pulse monitoring and vital signs checked every 2 hours, Halstead and colleagues said. Additional criteria include: a 90% oxygen saturation on 0.5 L/min nasal cannula while awake, asleep and feeding; ability to keep hydrated; no signs of deteriorating respiratory status; and the attending and caregiver are comfortable with discharge home.
“This is the first study demonstrating that a home O2 protocol in a select group of patients with uncomplicated bronchiolitis from the pediatric emergency department can be both successful and sustainable,” the study researchers said. “With increasing overcrowding and boarding of inpatients, the development and evaluation of outpatient management strategies, such as home O2, are imperative.”
Disclosure:
- The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.