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Treating Wheezing in Children With Hypertonic Saline (TWICS)

Phase 2
Withdrawn
Conditions
Wheeze
Interventions
Other: hypertonic saline
Other: saline
Registration Number
NCT01868932
Lead Sponsor
Dr. Michael Flavin
Brief Summary

Hypothesis: substitution of nebulized 3% NaCl (HS) for the standard normal saline (NS) used in bronchodilator therapy for acute viral wheezing in all children under age 6 years will provide superior symptom relief leading to decreased admission rates from the Emergency Department.

The study will test the efficacy of frequent doses of inhaled bronchodilator co-administered with either 3% hypertonic saline (HS, study group) or 0.9% normal saline (NS, control group) in a prospective, double blind, randomized controlled, multi-centre clinical trial of children under age 6 years presenting to the ED with acute viral-associated wheezing.

Detailed Description

the brief summary captures the essence of the study

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
WITHDRAWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
Not specified
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Age under 6 years
  2. History of viral upper respiratory infection within previous 7 days
  3. Wheezing or crackles detected on chest auscultation
  4. Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument (RDAI) score of 4 or greater or oxygen saturation (SaO2) of 94% or less in room air.
Exclusion Criteria
  1. History of immunodeficiency, chronic cardiopulmonary disease (other than past history of wheezing), Down syndrome, gestational age under 34 weeks.

  2. Severe illness at presentation as defined by any of the following

    • respiratory rate greater than 80/min
    • SaO2 less than 88% in room air
    • need for assisted ventilation
  3. Use of nebulized HS within previous 12 hours

  4. Presence of active varicella infection.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
hypertonic salinehypertonic salineinhalation of 4 ml nebulized study solution containing 3% hypertonic saline (HS, study group). Each dose of study solution will also contain a standard dose of bronchodilator (salbutamol, 0.15 mg/kg; 0.03 ml/kg of 0.5% salbutamol nebulizer solution) 1,2 added by the ED staff. Initial therapy will consist of 3 consecutive nebulizations given in rapid succession (back-to-back, approximately every 20 minutes).
salinesalineinhalation of 4 ml nebulized study solution containing saline 0.9% saline (NS, control group). Each dose of study solution will also contain a standard dose of bronchodilator (salbutamol, 0.15 mg/kg; 0.03 ml/kg of 0.5% salbutamol nebulizer solution) 1,2 added by the ED staff. Initial therapy will consist of 3 consecutive nebulizations given in rapid succession (back-to-back, approximately every 20 minutes).
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Rates of admission to hospitalduration of hospital ER stay, an average of 4 hours

Rates of admission to hospital

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Improvement in respiratory distress scores after initial protocol treatment in the EDtime from pre-intervention assessment to post-intervention assessment, an average of 2 hours

Improvement in respiratory distress scores after initial protocol treatment in the ED

Length-of-stay in the ED in the subgroup of patients not admittedan average of 6 hours

Length-of-stay in the ED in the subgroup of patients not admitted

Cumulative dose of bronchodilator administered in ED prior to admission/discharge orderan average of 6 hours

Cumulative dose of bronchodilator administered in ED prior to admission/discharge order

Rate of return visit to ED (for respiratory illness) within 14 days of enrollment14 days

Rate of return visit to ED (for respiratory illness) within 14 days of enrollment

Length of hospital stay in the those who are admittedlength of hospital stay, an average of 3 days

Length of hospital stay in the those who are admitted

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