Timing of dornase alpha inhalation does not affect the efficacy of an airway clearance regimen in adults with cystic fibrosis: a randomised crossover trial. Effect of smaller droplet size of dornase alfa on lung function in mild cystic fibrosis. Dornase Alfa Nebulizer Group. A two-year randomized, placebo-controlled trial of dornase alfa in young patients with cystic fibrosis with mild lung function abnormalities. Effects of 12-week administration of dornase alfa in patients with advanced cystic fibrosis lung disease. Pulmozyme Study Group. Routine use of dexamethasone for the prevention of postextubation respiratory distress. Fluticasone inhalation in moderate cases of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. A comparison of the effects of propofol-alfentanil versus isoflurane anesthesia on arterial oxygenation during one-lung ventilation. Effectiveness of dexamethasone in preventing extubation failure in preterm infants at increased risk for airway edema. Randomised controlled study of early use of inhaled corticosteroid in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome.
Does the timing of inhalation of dornase alpha in relation to physical airway clearance techniques influence the effect of the entire airway clearance regimen?.
                A randomised crossover trial with concealed allocation, intention-to-treat analysis and blinding of patients, therapists, and assessors.
                Twenty adults with cystic fibrosis who were not taking dornase alpha were recruited, of whom 17 were randomised and completed the trial.
                Participants performed an individually tailored session of physical airway clearance techniques for at least 15 minutes per day for 28 days. For 14 days, dornase alpha was inhaled before each session of airway clearance techniques and a placebo was inhaled after. For the other 14 days, placebo was inhaled before and dornase alpha after airway clearance techniques. The order of the two 14-day periods was randomised.
                The primary outcome was the forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV(1)). Secondary outcomes were forced vital capacity, 24-hour sputum production, sputum production during the airway clearance regimen, oxygen saturation, peak oxygen consumption during an incremental exercise test, oxygen desaturation during exercise, and quality of life.
                Inhalation of dornase alpha after airway clearance techniques did not significantly affect the change in FEV(1) compared with inhalation before airway clearance techniques, mean difference 0.04 L, 95% CI -0.14 to 0.23. None of the secondary outcomes differed significantly between the study arms. There was good correlation between the change in FEV(1) and the change in quality of life scores.
                Timing of dornase alpha can be selected according to convenience, patient preference, or to accommodate the timing of other medications in the treatment regimen.
                ACTRN12611001041943.
                Copyright © 2011 Australian Physiotherapy Association. Published by .. All rights reserved. Aerosolized recombinant human DNase (dornase alfa) reduces mucus viscoelasticity in vitro and improves pulmonary function in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). We postulated that if dornase alfa could be delivered more peripherally to small airways in the lung in the form of smaller aerosol droplets in patients with early airway obstruction, the increase in pulmonary function from baseline might be improved. CF patients (n = 749) with mild lung disease (baseline forced vital capacity > or = 70% predicted) were randomly assigned to receive dornase alfa 2.5 mg daily for 2 weeks by one of two nebulizer systems: 1) the Medic-Aid Durable SideStream nebulizer powered by the MobilAire Compressor (SS/MA) producing a droplet size with a mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of 2.1 microm; or 2) the Hudson T Up-draft nebulizer with a DeVilbiss Pulmo-Aide compressor (HT/PA) with an MMAD of 4.9 microm. Spirometry was performed at baseline and following 14 days of treatment. Dornase alfa delivered by both nebulizer systems produced small but statistically significant improvements in pulmonary function compared with baseline. There was a trend (P = 0.06) toward greater improvement in forced expiratory flow in 1 s in the SS/MA group (4.3%) compared with the HT/PA group (2.5%). These results indicate that the short-term spirometric response to dornase alfa is influenced in part by the physical characteristics of the aerosol in patients with mild lung disease. We speculate that this may be true for other therapeutic aerosols, and it appears that localization of disease in the lung plays a role in the response to inhaled agents. Our objective was to determine whether long-term treatment of young patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) with dornase alfa maintains lung function and reduces respiratory tract exacerbations.
                This was a 96-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 49 CF centers. Inclusion criteria were age 6 to 10 years and forced vital capacity > or = 85% predicted. Patients were excluded for hospitalization for complications of CF within 2 months and use of dornase alfa within 6 months. Patients were treated with dornase alfa 2.5 mg or placebo once daily with a jet nebulizer and a compressor.
                Patients were randomized, 239 to dornase alfa and 235 to placebo. At baseline the mean age was 8.4 years, the mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second 95% predicted, the mean forced expiratory flow, midexpiratory phase 85% predicted, and the mean forced vital capacity 102% predicted. At 96 weeks the treatment benefit for dornase alfa compared with placebo in percent predicted (mean +/- SE) was 3.2 +/- 1.2 for forced expiratory volume in 1 second (P =.006), 7.9 +/- 2.3 for forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity (P =.0008), and 0.7 +/- 1.0 for forced vital capacity (P =.51). The risk of respiratory tract exacerbation was reduced by 34% in patients who received dornase alfa (relative risk 0.66, P =.048). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in changes in weight-for-age percentile. Adverse event profiles for the treatment groups were similar.
                Treatment of young patients with CF with dornase alfa maintains lung function and reduces the risk of exacerbations over a 96-week period. The 12-week efficacy and safety of aerosolized recombinant human DNase (dornase alfa) were evaluated in previously untreated patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) with advanced lung disease.
                In this multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, CF patients with advanced lung disease were randomized to receive either dornase alfa or placebo once a day for 12 weeks.
                A total of 320 patients in clinically stable condition with documented CF and an FVC less than 40% of predicted were recruited from 65 CF Foundation care centers in the United States. The dornase alfa and placebo groups were comparable with respect to age (range, 7 to 57 years), height, and weight. Male subjects outnumbered female subjects (55% vs 45%) and few subjects were younger than 17 years of age (15%). The percentages of predicted FEV1 and FVC were significantly lower in the dornase alfa group at baseline (p < or = 0.05).
                Patients were randomly assigned to receive either 2.5 mg dornase alfa once daily (n = 158) or placebo once daily (n = 162). All patients continued to receive standard medications and treatments administered for CF.
                Dornase alfa improved the mean percent change in FEV1 from baseline by 9.4% compared with 2.1% for placebo (p < 0.001). The actively treated group showed a 12.4% improvement in FVC compared with 7.3% for placebo (p < 0.01). There were no differences between the treatment groups in dyspnea score number of days receiving i.v. antibiotics, or length of hospital stay; the overall incidence of adverse events was comparable between treatment groups. Fifteen patients died: 9 in the dornase alfa group and 6 in the placebo group; no differentiating clinical characteristics were demonstrated.
                Pulmonary function as measured by FEV1 and FVC improved significantly in the dornase alfa-treated patients. Dornase alfa was found to be safe and well tolerated over the 12-week study period. We evaluated the routine use of dexamethasone for the prevention of postextubation respiratory distress by entering 60 ventilated infants into a prospective, randomized, blinded study. Thirty minutes before extubation, 30 infants were given a single dose of intravenous dexamethasone (0.25 mg/kg), and 30 infants received saline placebo. Infants were intubated orotracheally for at least 48 hours following a single intubation and were maintained on low ventilator settings (F10(2) less than 0.35, intermittent mandatory ventilation [IMV] less than 6, positive end-expiratory pressure [PEEP] less than 4) at least 12 hours before extubation. Following extubation, all infants weighing less than 1500 g were routinely placed on nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP). There was no difference between the two groups in postextubation Downes' score, serum pH, PCO2, or oxygen requirement at 30 minutes, 6 hours, and 24 hours. Respiratory acidosis occurred in one steroid-treated patient and in two placebo-treated infants. Stridor occurred in four infants in each group. No infant developed postextubation lobar atelectasis or required reintubation. We conclude that prophylactic administration of dexamethasone does not improve the immediate postextubation course of infants following a single intubation and that its routine use at the time of extubation is not indicated. This randomized, controlled trial was designed to determine the efficacy of inhaled fluticasone propionate on oxygen therapy weaning in a population of preterm infants who were born at <32 weeks of gestation and experienced moderate bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).
                Thirty-two infants who were < or =32 weeks of gestation, had moderate BPD that required supplemental oxygen (fraction of inspired oxygen > or =0.25), and were aged between 28 and 60 days were randomized. Fluticasone propionate 125 microg twice daily for 3 weeks and once daily for a fourth week was delivered to infants who weighed between 500 and 1200 g. The dosage was doubled for infants who weighed > or =1200 g.
                Compared with placebo, treatment had no effect on either duration of supplemental O2 therapy or ventilatory support as assessed by survival analysis. At 28 days, a trend toward a lower cortisol/creatinine ratio in the treatment group was noted compared with placebo (25.1 +/- 18.9 vs 43 +/- 14.4). In the fluticasone group at 28 days, the systolic arterial pressure (78 +/- 3 vs 68 +/- 3 mm Hg) and diastolic arterial pressure (43 +/- 3.4 mm Hg vs 38 +/- 2.0 mm Hg) were higher compared with baseline fluticasone values. The chest radiograph score was lower than baseline (2.8 +/- 1.4 vs 3.7 +/- 2.2) in the fluticasone group at 28 days. This study has a statistical power of 1.0 to detect a significant difference in the duration of oxygen supplementation of >21 days between the study groups.
                We conclude that fluticasone propionate reduces neither supplemental O2 use nor the need for ventilatory support in this patient population. However, fluticasone does have a positive radiologic effect in lowering chest radiograph scores. In addition, our data point to a possible association among inhaled fluticasone treatment and higher arterial blood pressure. Thus, the results of this investigation do not support the use of inhaled corticosteroids in the treatment of oxygen-dependent infants who have established moderate BPD. To determine whether intravenous propofol-alfentanil anesthesia provides superior arterial oxygenation (Pao2) during one-lung ventilation (OLV) compared with isoflurane inhalation anesthesia.
                A prospective, randomized, cross-over study.
                Tertiary-care university hospital.
                Thirty adults having either thoracoscopic pulmonary surgery or esophageal surgery.
                Patients received either propofol-alfentanil infusion anesthesia or one minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane during the initial period of two-lung ventilation and the first 30 minutes of OLV and then were switched to the other anesthetic for the duration of OLV.
                Arterial blood gases and hemodynamics were recorded during two-lung ventilation and after 20 and 30 minutes of OLV with each anesthetic technique. The mean values (+/- SD) for Pao2 during propofol-alfentanil anesthesia after 20 minutes (222 +/- 100) and 30 minutes (228 +/- 102 mmHg) of one-lung ventilation were not significantly different than after 20 minutes (213 +/- 99) or 30 minutes (214 +/- 96 mmHg) of isoflurane; beta error less than 0.1. Mean heart rate was lower during intravenous (78 +/- 15 min) than inhalation (85 +/- 17 min) anesthesia (rho = 0.03).
                This study does not support the theory that total intravenous anesthesia will decrease the risk of hypoxemia during OLV. 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). Patients underwent blood gas studies, physical examinations, and pulmonary function testing at baseline (4 hours before extubation) and again 2 to 4 hours and 18 to 24 hours after extubation. Twenty-seven infants received dexamethasone, 0.25 mg/kg per dose, at baseline, and then every 8 hours for a total of three doses; 23 infants received saline solution at corresponding times. Eighteen to twenty-four hours after extubation, total pulmonary resistance increased by 225% from baseline in the control group compared with 33% in the dexamethasone group (p < 0.006), and the dexamethasone group had a greater tidal volume, a greater dynamic compliance, and a lower arterial carbon dioxide pressure. 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. To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of inhaled fluticasone propionate, started on day 1 of age, on ventilated preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome.
                Starting within 24 hours of age, ventilated preterm infants (gestation < 32 weeks, birthweight < 1.5 kg) with respiratory distress syndrome were given a 14 day course (two puffs, 12 hourly) of either fluticasone propionate (250 microg/puff) (group 1, n=27) or placebo (group 2, n=26) with a metered dose inhaler-spacer device. Response to treatment was assessed by the rate of successful extubation by days 7 and 14 of age, changes in respiratory system mechanics, death, occurrence of chronic lung disease, and other neonatal complications.
                More infants in the treatment group were successfully extubated by 14 days of age than those in the placebo group (17/27 vs 8/26; p = 0.038). The treated infants also showed a more significant improvement in respiratory system compliance during the first 14 days of life. The two groups, however, did not differ significantly in their need for systemic steroids after day 14 of age, death, or the occurrence of chronic lung disease. The treatment was not associated with any increase in neonatal complications, including those attributable to steroid induced side effects.
                These results provide preliminary evidence that early treatment with inhaled corticosteroids may be beneficial to ventilated preterm infants with respiratory distress. Further study of its use in a large scale randomised trial is warranted.
The current evidence derived from a small number of participants does not indicate that inhalation of dornase alfa after airway clearance techniques is more or less effective than the traditional recommendation to inhale nebulised dornase alfa 30 minutes prior to airway clearance techniques, for most outcomes. For children with well-preserved lung function, inhalation before airway clearance may be more beneficial for small airway function than inhalation after. However, this result relied on a measure with high variability and studies with variable follow up. In the absence of strong evidence to indicate that one timing regimen is better than another, the timing of dornase alpha inhalation can be largely based on pragmatic reasons or individual preference with respect to the time of airway clearance and time of day. Further research is warranted.