The Journal of pediatrics
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The Journal of pediatrics · Nov 1993
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialChlorpromazine with and without lorazepam as antiemetic therapy in children receiving uniform chemotherapy.
We prospectively studied the efficacy and adverse effects of chlorpromazine (30 mg/m2 given intravenously) plus lorazepam (0.04 mg/kg given intravenously) versus chlorpromazine alone in a controlled, double-blind, randomized, parallel-design investigation in 25 children (1.5 to 17.3 years of age) with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Response to other antiemetics in eight children refusing random assignment to treatment was also evaluated. All children were receiving intravenous infusions of teniposide plus cytarabine, the pharmacokinetics of which were characterized for each of the one to four courses. ⋯ An exploratory pharmacodynamic analysis revealed that the only variable that correlated with vomiting was cytarabine 1 1/2-hour plasma concentration (p = 0.007). Children who received either chlorpromazine plus lorazepam or chlorpromazine alone had fewer episodes of vomiting than those who received "conventional" antiemetic therapy (6.0 vs 8.6; p = 0.01). We conclude that the severity of emesis is related to the plasma concentration of cytarabine; that intravenously administered chlorpromazine is as effective as chlorpromazine plus lorazepam in preventing chemotherapy-induced vomiting; and that the potential for adverse effects with the addition of lorazepam may be a disadvantage.
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The Journal of pediatrics · Aug 1993
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialEfficacy of albuterol administered by nebulizer versus spacer device in children with acute asthma.
The aim of this study was to compare the response to inhaled albuterol after administration by nebulizer with the response after administration by a metered-dose inhaler and spacer device (MDI-spacer) to children with acute asthma. In a double-blind fashion, 33 children (6 to 14 years of age) with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) between 20% and 70% of predicted values, and who were seen in the emergency department with acute asthma, were studied. They were treated with aerosolized albuterol or placebo by MDI-spacer, followed immediately by albuterol or placebo administered by nebulizer with oxygen. ⋯ Outcome measures included a clinical score, respiratory rate, arterial oxygen saturation, and FEV1, measured before and 10, 20, and 40 minutes after treatment. With the exception of heart rate (which increased in the nebulizer group and decreased in the MDI-spacer group (p < 0.05), no difference in the rate of improvement of clinical score, respiratory rate, arterial oxygen saturation, or FEV1 was noted during the 40-minute study period between children who received albuterol by nebulizer and those who received it by MDI-spacer. We conclude that spacers and nebulizers are equally effective means of delivering beta 2-agonists to children with acute asthma.
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The Journal of pediatrics · Mar 1993
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialComparison of three dosing procedures for administration of bovine surfactant to neonates with respiratory distress syndrome.
A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial compared three beractant (Survanta) administration procedures in the treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. Infants weighing > or = 600 gm with respiratory distress syndrome who required assisted ventilation were treated within 8 hours of birth with beractant administered intratracheally. Procedure A required administration in two fractional doses after removal of the infant from the ventilator. ⋯ There were no significant differences in the lowest heart rates recorded during administration of doses, but there was less oxygen desaturation during administration of dose 1 with procedure B than with procedure A (p = 0.001), and more reflux of beractant after procedure B than after procedure C (p = 0.007). We conclude that the three procedures are equally effective and can be used to administer beractant safely and effectively. Procedure B has the advantage of allowing administration without interrupting mechanical ventilation.
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The Journal of pediatrics · Jan 1993
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEffect of racemic epinephrine and salbutamol on clinical score and pulmonary mechanics in infants with bronchiolitis.
To test the efficacy of a combined alpha- and beta-receptor agonist in acute bronchiolitis, we compared inhaled racemic epinephrine with salbutamol in a double-blind, crossover, randomized protocol. Twenty-four infants, 4.6 +/- 0.5 (mean +/- SEM) months of age, with their first episode of bronchiolitis were tested. After sedation with chloral hydrate, a clinical score and pulmonary mechanics measurements using simultaneous signals of airflow volume and transpulmonary pressure were recorded. ⋯ There was a significant decrease in inspiratory, expiratory, and total pulmonary resistance after treatment with racemic epinephrine compared with baseline values (p < 0.01) but no significant change after salbutamol inhalation. There was no significant correlation between the clinical score and pulmonary mechanics either at baseline or after drug treatment. We conclude that racemic epinephrine is superior to salbutamol in the treatment of infants with their first episode of acute bronchiolitis.
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The Journal of pediatrics · Oct 1992
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEffectiveness of dexamethasone in preventing extubation failure in preterm infants at increased risk for airway edema.
We studied 50 preterm infants who had multiple or traumatic endotracheal intubations, or whose duration of endotracheal intubation was > or = to 14 days, and who were considered at high risk for airway edema. These infants were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial to assess whether prophylactic dexamethasone therapy would be effective in the prevention of postextubation stridor and respiratory distress. At study entry, both groups had similar weights, postnatal ages, methylxanthine use, ventilator settings, blood gas values, and pulmonary function test results (dynamic compliance, total respiratory resistance, tidal volume, peak-to-peak transpulmonary pressure, minute ventilation, and peak inspiratory and expiratory flow rates). ⋯ Of 23 control infants, 10 had postextubation stridor compared with 2 of 27 dexamethasone-treated patients (p < 0.006). Of the 23 control patients, 4 required reintubation compared with none of the treated group (p < 0.05). We conclude that the prophylactic use of corticosteroids for the prevention of postextubation stridor and respiratory distress is efficacious in low birth weight, high-risk preterm infants.