Commercial versus home-made spacers in delivering bronchodilator therapy for acute therapy in children

Abstract

Commercial versus home-made spacers in delivering bronchodilator therapy for acute therapy in children.

Comparison of the bronchodilating effects of albuterol delivered by valved vs. non‐valved spacers in pediatric asthma

“…They reported that changes in peak expiratory flow (PEF) and percentage improvement were comparable among all five groups and that changes in FEV 1 and percentage improvement were also comparable, irrespective of severity of baseline airway obstruction (18). Also, a recent Cochrane meta-analysis that compares the efficacy of bronchodilator therapy given via commercially produced spacers (valved holding chambers) with home-made spacers (non-valved spacers) in children with acute exacerbation of bronchospasms or asthma did not identify a difference in any outcome between the two type of devices (19).…”

Home-made spacer as an auxiliary device in administration of beclomethasone via pressurized metered dose inhaler for asthma control. A randomized controlled pragmatic trial

“…Commercial spacers and valved holding chambers of different shapes and sizes have been produced and marketed, but cost and lack of availability limits their use in developing countries. In an attempt to circumvent this problem, studies have been conducted in patients with asthma exacerbations to evaluate the effectiveness of home-made spacers made from plastic soft drink bottles [11e15, 30,31]. In children with acute asthma, Zar et al demonstrated that the use of beta-2 agonist pMDI coupled to spacers manufactured from 500 ml plastic bottles resulted in significant symptomatic and functional improvement, similar to the group that used commercial spacers [12].…”

Improving the global diagnosis and management of asthma in children

“… 48 The high cost and lack of availability of commercially produced spacers limit their use in LMICs, although spacers made with plastic bottles can be equally effective. 49 In some LMICs, access to any form of care can be lacking or care may be unaffordable. 49 …”