Comparison Between Budesonide and Dexamethasone Treatments for Respiratory Discomfort After Extubation on Children

The subjects will receive a 5 ml normal saline inhalation right after extubation and will be re-evaluated in 5 to 10 minutes. The ones who develop upper airway obstruction and stridor with a Downes-Raphaelly score of 2 or higher will receive 0.5 ml/kg of inhaled epinephrine 1:1000 diluted to a final volume of 5 ml with a maximum dose of 2.5 ml in children up to 4 years and 5 ml in children with 5 years and above, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The subjects who do not show an improvement after the epinephrine treatment will then be randomized to receive 2 mg of inhaled budesonide and 3 ml of IV normal saline. If there is an improvement the following maintenance therapy will be instituted for 48 hs and the subjects will receive 2 mg of budesonide q12hs and 3 ml of IV NS q6hs.

The subjects will receive a 5 ml normal saline inhalation right after extubation and will be re-evaluated in 5 to 10 minutes. The ones who develop upper airway obstruction and stridor with a Downes-Raphaelly score of 2 or higher will receive 0.5 ml/kg of inhaled epinephrine 1:1000 diluted to a final volume of 5 ml with a maximum dose of 2.5 ml in children up to 4 years and 5 ml in children with 5 years and above, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The subjects who do not show an improvement after the epinephrine treatment will then be randomized to receive 8 ml of inhaled normal saline and 0.6 mg/kg of IV dexamethasone. The dexamethasone group will receive 8 ml of inhaled NS q12hs and 0.15 mg/kg/dose of dexamethasone q6hs.