Objectives: To determine the value, if any, of bronchodilators in the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Patients: Patients in ARDS receiving mechanical ventilation, sedated with propofol to a Ramsay score of Grade VI, without any history of chronic obstructive airways disease nor audible bronchospasm. Measurements and main results: PaO2 before and 20 minutes after normal saline or bronchodilator administration through a nebuliser was continuously monitored and recorded for a period of 15 minutes and the mean value (± SD) determined. PaO2, before and after normal saline administration was 66.3 ± 3.2 mmHg (8.8 ± 0.4 kPa) and 66.9 ± 4.1 mmHg (8.9 ± 0.6 kPa), respectively. With bronchodilator therapy the PaO2 was 66.8 ± 3.7 (8.9 ± 0.5 kPa) and 67.5 ± 3.7 mmHg (9.0 ± 0.5 kPa) before and after therapy, There was no statistically significant difference seen. Conclusion: In patients with ARDS with no audible bronchospasm, bronchodilator was no more effective than placebo.
(EN)
/aggregator-openarchives/portal/institutions/uoa
