| Methods |
Randomization: yes (table of random numbers)
Blinding: double‐blind
Number excluded: 13
Withdrawals: none
Baseline characteristics: HR 127.8 (15.4 ) iv, 146.2 (13.6) neb; RR 38.9 (11.9) iv, 45.8 (9.9) neb; glucose 7.5 (2.7) iv, 8.5 (3.1) neb; potassium 3.9 (0.5) iv, 4.2 (0.6) neb; pulm index 12 iv, 15 neb; acc muscle use 12 iv, 15 neb; SOB 12 iv, 13 neb; wheeze 13 iv, 14 neb; fatigue 7 iv, 9 neb
Jadad score: "strong", score > 3 |
| Participants |
Location: Westmead, Australia
Participants: initially 50, 37 eligible, 29 final (8 gave no consent), 1‐12 yrs (mean 8.4 iv, 6.3 neb); males 7 iv, 12 neb; females 7 iv, 3 neb; height 1.3m (0.2) iv, 1.2m (0.2) neb; weight 29.2 kg (10.1) iv, 22.5 kg (8.1) neb
Asthma definition and severity: severe acute asthma as per NAAC guidelines
Exclusion criteria: mild, moderate or life‐threatening asthma, CHD, SVT, respiratory illness, DM, <10kg, >50kg, <12mos, >12yrs, max iv dose already
Inhaled corticosteroid use: no details |
| Interventions |
Standard care: Coincident with iv drugs, O2 NPV 30%, continuous salbutamol 2.5 mg ( < 2 yrs ) or 5 mg ( > 2 yrs ), hydrocortisone 5 mg/kg iv, then from 2 hrs onwards continuous salbutamol, then q30 min, q60 min, q2h, q3h, q4h prn
Treatment group: placebo vs. salbutamol iv 15 ug/kg over 10 min at 0 min
Placebo: saline |
| Outcomes |
PFTs: not done
Timing: not done
Admissions: all patients admitted to high‐dependency ward
Side effects: higher proportion with tremor at 2 hr (specifics unknown)
Complications: |
| Notes |
Run in period of 30 min where pts given salb neb of 2.5 or 5 mg |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Low risk |
Investigators unaware as to order of randomisation sequence |
