Helium-oxygen improves Clinical Asthma Scores in children with acute bronchiolitis

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Abstract
To determine the efficacy of a helium-oxygen mixture in children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit with acute respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis. Randomized, double-blind, controlled, crossover study and nonrandomized, prospective study. A pediatric intensive care unit in a university hospital. Nonintubated children with signs of acute lower respiratory tract infection and a positive rapid immunoassay for RSV admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit. Treatment with either helium-oxygen or air-oxygen was administered in random order for 20 mins. Nonrandomized patients received helium-oxygen as initial therapy. Clinical Asthma Score, respiratory rate, heart rate, and pulse oximetry oxygen saturation values were recorded at baseline (before randomization) and at the end of each 20-min treatment period (helium-oxygen or air-oxygen). Nonrandomized patients were studied 20 mins into helium-oxygen delivery. Eighteen patients were studied, 13 of whom were randomized. Five children with severe bronchiolitis (Clinical Asthma Score of >or=to6) were initially given helium-oxygen and scored at 20 mins. Mean Clinical Asthma Score was 3.04 (range 1 to 7.5) in the 13 randomized patients and 4.25 (range 1 to 9) in the 18 patients overall. Clinical Asthma Score decreased in the 13 randomized patients (mean 0.46, p s Inhaled helium-oxygen improves the overall respiratory status of children with acute RSV lower respiratory tract infection. In patients with mild-to-moderate bronchiolitis (Clinical Asthma Scores of