The purpose of this study is to compare heat and humidified oxygen with cold and dry oxygen in children with bronchiolitis. The hypotheses are that heating and humidifying inspired low flow supplemental oxygen will optimize mucociliary function thereby, 1) improve oxygenation, 2) decrease work of breathing, and 3) decrease length of hospital stay.
Bronchiolitis is the leading cause of acute respiratory illness and hospitalization in infants and young children. The mainstay of treatment is supportive care, which includes frequent nasal suctioning, intravenous fluid hydration, and supplemental oxygen for hypoxemia. The airways normally heat and humidify inspired ambient air to core temperature amd 100% relative humidity at the carina. This environment, at core temperature, allows for optimal mucociliary clearance. Supplemental oxygen delivered via wall source is cold and dry, and does not reach core temperature and 100% humidity until some point distal to the carina, past the main bronchi. This presses on the lower respiratory tract to assist in heat and moisture exchange and thus decrease ciliary function. This, in combination with bronchiolitis, can impair mucociliary clearance. Specific aim 1: Determine the effect of heated and humidified oxygen therapy on clinical improvement in children with bronchiolitis, based on Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument (RDAI) and respiratory rate (RR). Specific aim 2: Determine the effect of heated and humidified oxygen therapy on length of hospital stay and duration of supplemental oxygen requirement in children with bronchiolitis.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
32
Children's Hospital and Research Center Oakland
Oakland, California, United States
Change in Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument (RDAI) From Baseline.
The RDAI is a validated clinical scoring system to assess respiratory distress and has been used in several bronchiolitis studies. The RDAI is based on two variables, wheezing and retractions, in which points are applied to each to give a score ranging from 0 to 17. The higher the total score, the worse the subject was clinically. Reported are the absolute scores at each time point, for each arm. Baseline scores are reported in the Baseline Module.
Time frame: Baseline, Hour 1, Hour 4, Hour 8, and Hour 12
Change in Respiratory Rate (RR) From Baseline
Respiratory rate was measured by counting respirations for one minute. Reported are the absolute scores at each time point, for each arm. Baseline scores are reported in the Baseline Module.
Time frame: Baseline, Hour 1, Hour 4, Hour 8, and Hour 12
Length of Hospital Stay
Length of hospital stay is measured in days and counted from day of admission to day of discharge.
Time frame: Subjects will be followed for the duration of hospital stay until discharge
Duration of O2 Use
Duration on supplemental O2 was measured in hours.
Time frame: Subjects will be followed for the duration of oxygen requirement until oxygen discontinued
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