US-based Monaghan Medical, which sells breath actuated nebulizers manufactured by Trudell Medical International (TMI), is presenting data at CHEST 2014 from a study showing that continuous nebulizers may under-dose medication. According to Monaghan changes in a patient’s inspiratory/expiratory (I/E) ratio during tidal breathing can result in variable dosing.
Specifically, the study, conducted with TMI, demonstrated that the fine droplet mass of an albuterol sulfate inhalation solution emitted by continuous jet nebulizers decreased as the I/E ratio was increased. One brand of nebulizer tested showed a 42% drop in fine droplet mass from a 1:1 I/E ratio to a 1:4 I/E ratio. The other nebulizer tested had a 46% drop over the same range.
The company suggests that breath actuated nebulizers provide more consistent delivery. Monaghan Medical VP of Clinical Affairs Dominic Coppolo commented, “The AeroEclipse II BAN consistently delivers a reliable dose of medication, regardless of patient I:E ratio. The clinician cannot control how a patient breathes during a nebulizer treatment, but more of the medication is available to the patient because of minimal loss of aerosol to the environment.”
Read the Monaghan Medical press release.
