Evaluation of lung function and deposition of aerosolized bronchodilators carried by heliox associated with positive expiratory pressure in stable asthmatics: a randomized clinical trial.

While administration of medical aerosols with heliox and positive airway pressure are both used clinically to improve aerosol delivery, few studies have differentiated their separate roles in treatment of asthmatics. The aim of this randomized, double blinded study is to differentiate the effect of heliox and oxygen with and without positive expiratory pressure (PEP), on delivery of radiotagged inhaled bronchodilators on pulmonary function and deposition in asthmatics. 32 patients between 18 and 65 years of age diagnosed with stable moderate to severe asthma were randomly assigned into four groups: (1) Heliox + PEP (n = 6), (2) Oxygen + PEP (n = 6), (3) Heliox (n = 11) and (4) Oxygen without PEP (n = 9). Each group received 1 mg of fenoterol and 2 mg of ipratropium bromide combined with 25 mCi (955 Mbq) of Technetium-99m and 0.9% saline to a total dose volume of 3 mL placed in a Venticis II nebulizer attached to a closed, valved mask with PEP of 0 or 10 cm H2O. Both gas type and PEP level were blinded to the investigators. Images were acquired with a single-head scintillation camera with the longitudinal and transverse division of the right lung as regions of interest (ROIs). While all groups responded to bronchodilators, only group 1 showed increase in FEV1%predicted and IC compared to the other groups (p < 0.04). When evaluating the ROI in the vertical gradient we observed higher deposition in the middle and lower third in groups 1 (p = 0.02) and 2 (p = 0.01) compared to group 3. In the horizontal gradient, a higher deposition in the central region in groups 1 (p = 0.03) and 2 (p = 0.02) compared to group 3 and intermediate region of group 2 compared to group 3. We conclude that aerosol deposition was higher in groups with PEP independent of gas used, while bronchodilator response with Heliox + PEP improved FEV1 % and IC compared to administration with Oxygen, Oxygen with PEP and Heliox alone. Trial registration NCT01268462.