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The Effectiveness of Nebulized Hypertonic Saline Solution for Acute Bronchiolitis

Phase 2
Terminated
Conditions
Bronchiolitis
Interventions
Drug: nebulized 3% hypertonic solution
Registration Number
NCT02760719
Lead Sponsor
University Medical Centre Ljubljana
Brief Summary

This study evaluates the effectiveness of nebulized 3% hypertonic saline solution with salbutamol in the treatment of children under 2 years, hospitalised for acute viral bronchiolitis. Half of the participants will receive nebulized 3% hypertonic saline solution with salbutamol three times daily, the other half will receive standard supportive care, which is the cornerstone of the bronchiolitis management.

Detailed Description

Acute viral bronchiolitis is the most common lower respiratory tract infection in infants up to two years old. Currently there is no effective treatment so standard treatment remains supportive care with supplemental oxygen to correct hypoxia, minimal handling to minimise the risk of exhaustion and the provision of fluids.

In recent years some studies have suggested that nebulised hypertonic saline, which improve airway hygiene, may influence the course of the illness and reduce the duration of hospitalisation without significant side effects.

Study protocol: half of the included patients will receive standard treatment for bronchiolitis, which includes only supportive care, the other half will additionally receive nebulized 3% hypertonic saline solution with salbutamol (to avoid potential bronchial obstruction) three times daily.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
100
Inclusion Criteria
  • first episode of bronchiolitis: viral lower respiratory tract infection with signs of airway obstruction (hyperinflated lungs, tachypnea, increased work of breathing) and crepitations on auscultations
  • admission to the hospital
  • Wang CSS between 3 and 9
  • randomisation within 4 hours of admission
Exclusion Criteria
  • a history or previous episodes of bronchiolitis/bronchitis
  • primary diseases: gastro-oesophageal reflux, chronic cardiac or pulmonary diseases including suspected asthma, immunodeficiency, conditions with hypotonia where more severe course of bronchiolitis is expected
  • newborns
  • premature infants born < 36 weeks of gestation
  • oxygen saturation < 85% and patients requiring admission to high dependency or intensive care units at presentation

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
hypertonic salinenebulized 3% hypertonic solution4 ml of nebulized 3 % hypertonic saline + salbutamol 0,03 ml/kg every 8 hours for the time of hospitalisation and standard supportive care (oxygen to correct hypoxia, minimal handling to minimise the risk of exhaustion, provision of fluids, gentle nasal aspiration)
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Fit to discharge timeOutcome measure will be assessed in hours, data will be presented through study completion- estimated to 2 years

Fit to discharge time: as the point (measured in hours) at which the infant was feeding adequately (taking \>75% of their usual intake) and had been in air with a saturation of at least 92% for 6 h.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of participants transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU)Through study completion - estimated to 2 years, the patients will be assessed through whole hospitalisation time

The need to be transferred to the ICU because of the respiratory failure

Duration of hospitalisationOutcome measure will be assessed in hours, data will be presented through study completion- estimated to 2 years

Actual time to discharge in hours, which could be prolonged for other reasons than just bronchiolitis

Number of participants with treatment related adverse events assessed by questionnaireThrough study completion - estimated to 2 years, the patients will be assessed through whole hospitalisation time

To asses all possible side effects related to the inhalation of hypertonic saline

Number of patients readmitted to the hospital because of the same diagnoseThrough study completion - estimated to 2 years; the patients will be assessed up to one month after discharge

Rate of readmission within one month after discharge because of the same disease

Comparison of fit to discharge time between patients treated with nebulized hypertonic saline with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) versus non-RSV bronchiolitis.Outcome measure will be assessed in hours, data will be presented through study completion- estimated to 2 years

To see if there are any differences in fit to discharge time (the point measured in hours at which the infant was feeding adequately - taking \>75% of their usual intake and had been in air with a saturation of at least 92% for 6 h) between patients who received nebulized hypertonic saline and have RSV bronchiolitis and patients who received nebulized hypertonic saline and have non-RSV bronchiolitis (to see if hypertonic saline has better effect on fit to discharge time in patients who have RSV bronchiolitis compared to patients who have non-RSV bronchiolitis).

Duration of hypoxiaOutcome measure will be assessed in hours, data will be presented through study completion- estimated to 2 years

For how long (in hours) participants need the oxygen therapy (have saturation on air bellow 92%).

Clinical severity score (CSS) assessed by Wang scoreThrough study completion - estimated to 2 years, the patients will be assessed through whole hospitalisation time

Wang 1992 CSS as an outcome: measured two times daily

Comparison of hypoxia duration between patients treated with nebulized hypertonic saline with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) versus non-RSV bronchiolitis.Outcome measure will be assessed in hours, data will be presented through study completion- estimated to 2 years

To see if there are any differences in hypoxia (for how long in hours participants need the oxygen therapy: have saturation bellow 92%) between patients who received nebulized hypertonic saline and have RSV bronchiolitis and patients who received nebulized hypertonic saline and have non-RSV bronchiolitis.

Number of participants with treatment related adverse events assessed by questionnaire: comparison of patients with RSV bronchiolitis and patients with non-RSV bronchiolitis.through study completion - estimated to 2 years, the patients will be assessed through whole hospitalisation time

To asses all possible side effects related to the inhalation of hypertonic saline in patients who have RSV bronchiolitis compared to the patients who have non-RSV bronchiolitis.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of infectious disease, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana

🇸🇮

Ljubljana, Slovenia

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