| Methods |
Randomization: yes (mentioned in passing, mentioned as numbered ampules & bottles)
Blinding: double‐blind
Number excluded: no details
Withdrawals: 2
Baseline characteristics: HR 119 (sd 21) iv, 115 (sd 30) neb; PaO2 12.3 (sd 2.7) iv, 11.4 (sd 2.4) neb; PaCO2 4.7 (sd 0.5) iv, 5.6 (sd 1.6) neb; PEFR/FEV 86 (sd 26) / 0.68 (sd 0.24) iv, 82 (sd 23) / 0.52 (sd 0.15) neb
Jadad score: "strong", score >/= 3 |
| Participants |
Location: Harrow, Middlesex, England
Participants: 16 eligible, 14 final (2 removed because of side effects to iv meds), 15‐65 yrs (mean ?)
Asthma definition and severity: unresponsive to hospital meds, no steroids in previous 6 hrs, no recent changes in oral steroid dose, PEF < 120L
Exclusion criteria: no details
Inhaled corticosteroid use: no details |
| Interventions |
Standard care: O2 40% NPV, hydrocortisone 250 mg iv
Treatment group: salb 10 mg NEB at 0 min lasting for 45 min vs. salb iv infusion 20 ug/min at 0 min lasting for 45 min
Placebo: saline |
| Outcomes |
PFTs: PEFR/FEV iv pos 38 (sd 68)/ 0.44 (sd 0.35); neb pos 51 (sd 56)/ 0.21 (sd 0.13)
Timing: 45 min
Admissions:
Side effects: 5 of 9 had undesirable SE (2 withdrew, 2 tremor, 1 palp)
Complications: |
| Notes |
|
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Low risk |
Investigators unaware as to order of randomisation sequence |
