MDI vs Nebulizer Treatment In Healthcare Facilities

The efficacy of using MDI versus nebulizer in alleviating asthma symptoms in hospitalized adult patients
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The efficacy of using MDI versus nebulizer in alleviating asthma symptoms in hospitalized adult patients
Introduction
Inhalation treatment constitutes the favored means of asthma medication delivery. Wet nebulizers employed for liquid medications and metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) that are incorporated in spacers represent the commonly used approaches. Numerous researchers have depicted that MDI-spacers are equally efficacious, or even more effective than, nebulizers in the delivery of aerosol medication in asthmatic patients. For instance, the use of nebulizers call for a power supply, consumes time, are adversely portable, are generally pricey, require skilled supervision and maintenance. On the other hand, MDIs are perceived to be user friendly, do not need a power supply or prior dose preparation, require minimal time and effort, are more portable, and employ less doses in comparison to nebulizers (Alhaider, 2014, 27). Nonetheless, MDIs have been associated with considerable lung sensitivity (Reznik, Silver, and Cao, 2014). This paper, hence, seeks to deliberate on the efficacy of using an MDI as compared to nebulizers in alleviating asthma symptoms in adult patients.
Dose
Management of asthma symptoms constitute inhaled fast acting beta-agonists, corticosteroids, and other aerosols. While aerosolized fast-acting beta-agonists is the most commonly employed interventions for asthma symptoms, the dose, dosing rate, and delivery approach remain contentious. Such aerosolized beta-agonists are delivered with the aid of a nebulizer. Asthma symptom alleviation to an aerosolized beta-agonist is based on the quantity of drug delivered to the lungs and the distribution of the aerosol in the conducting airways. This delivery depend on particle dimension generated and inhalation technique. With this MDIs may improve responses and decrease adverse systemic effects associated with inhaled larger particles by increasing lung delivery as MDIs generate smaller particles within the respiratory range than nebulizers (Raissy and Kelly, 2004).
In comparison to an MDI-spacer, nebulizers have been reported to dispense the greater amount of medication with no significant therapeutic advantage. Nonetheless, the prospect for such excessive medication exposure is harmful as the inhalation of ...