Decreasing the Use of Albuterol Nebulizer Solution in the Management of Asthma Exacerbations in the Emergency Department.

Introduction: During a nationwide surge in asthma exacerbations in the fall of 2022, there was a critical shortage of albuterol nebulizer solution, requiring our institution to explore ways to conserve nebulized albuterol. The metered-dose inhaler (MDI) and vibrating mesh nebulizer (VMN) offer more efficient methods of albuterol administration. We aimed to incorporate alternative albuterol administration methods within our emergency department (ED) to decrease the amount of nebulized albuterol solution administered for asthma exacerbations.

Performance of the Asthma Clinical Score in the Evaluation of Acute Asthma in the Emergency Department.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to examine the performance of the Asthma Clinical Score (ACS) relative to the Pediatric Respiratory Assessment Measure (PRAM). Our secondary objectives were to determine interrater reliability, discriminative validity, responsiveness, and predictive validity of the ACS and PRAM.

Methods: This was a single-site prospective observational study of children ages 2 to < 18 years presenting to the emergency department (ED) for asthma exacerbations.

Cost analysis of hospitals performing continuous albuterol in non-intensive care settings.

Objective: To compare hospital costs and resource utilization for pediatric asthma admissions based on the hospitals' availability of continuous albuterol aerosolization administration (CAA) in non-intensive care unit (ICU) settings.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of children ages 2-17 years admitted in 2019 with a principal diagnosis of asthma using the Pediatric Health Information System. Hospitals and hospitalizations were categorized based on location of CAA administration, ICU-only versus general inpatient floors.