ABSTRACT
Figure 3 Comparison of improvement in FEV1 over baseline for different doses and methods of administering nebulized albuterol. All studies were performed in the emergency department of Toronto Hospital for Sick Children. (From Refs. 55-57.)
Although the nebulizer dose of inhaled 132 agonists for children is often listed on a weight (mglkg) basis, the use of a minimum fixed dose of 2.5 mg albuterol or equivalent in children 4 to 12 years is as safe and effective as a dose of 0.1 mglkg/dose (59). It is likely to be as safe to convert the recommended doses of 0.15 mglkg, 0.30 mglkg and .45 mglkg/hr to fixed doses of 5.0, 7.5, or 10 mglhr as well. At our institution, a fixed minimum dose of 10 mglhr albuterol for any patient requiring CNA has been utilized (60).
