In vitro experiment evaluates aerosol delivery efficacy in pediatric ventilation models, indicating tidal volume's importance.
Key Points
Evaluate how tidal volume-based ventilation models affect aerosol delivery efficacy using a vibrating mesh nebulizer in pediatrics.
Conducted in vitro experiments with six pediatric ventilation models at tidal volumes of 40–400 mL.
Nebulized salbutamol using a vibrating mesh nebulizer positioned on the dry side of a heated humidifier.
Quantified inhaled mass fraction using a spectrophotometer to measure drug collected on a filter adjacent to the endotracheal tube.
Inhaled mass fraction increased with tidal volume: 3.5% at 40 mL, 7.9% at 56 mL, 15.7% at 120 mL, 19.4% at 160 mL, and 21.3% at 400 mL (p < 0.001 vs. baseline).
No significant differences in aerosol delivery were found with variations in other ventilatory settings or endotracheal tube sizes.