Comparison between simple nebulization and intermittent positive-pressure in asthmatic children with severe bronchospasm.

Tweinty-three asthmatic children had severe sudden bronchospasm due to numerous factors. Baseline values for the peak expiratory flow rate were less than 25 percent of predicted. Utilizing an analysis of variance, three methods of administering isoproterenol hydrochloride (hand-held Freon-propelled nebulization, continuous nebulization, and intermittent positive-pressure breathing [IPPB]) were compared and found to be similar in reversing the bronchospasm (F = 1.56; degrees of freedom, 2/44; P = 0.22). There were no patients whose condition consistently improved with IPPB over the methods of therapy using simple nebulization. Therapy with IPPB did not offer any advantage over simple nebulization in patients with severe, reversible airway obstruction.