Positive Expiratory Pressure for the Treatment of Acute Asthma in Children
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2017-04-12
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Asthma is a leading cause of emergency department (ED) visits for children. A novel way of
treating asthma is the use of positive expiratory pressure (PEP). Positive expiratory
pressure works by creating pressure in the lungs to keep airways open and to clear mucus from
the lungs. PEP is already used in the treatment of asthma at the investigators institution,
but studies evaluating the efficacy of PEP therapy in asthma exacerbations do not exist. This
study plans to learn more about the use of PEP therapy in the treatment of asthma
exacerbations in children in the emergency department. Specifically, the study aims to
evaluate if PEP therapy reduces the severity of asthma exacerbations in children and if it
reduces the need for additional therapies and admission to the hospital. This study will be a
randomized control trial comparing children who receive standard therapy to those who receive
standard therapy plus PEP therapy in the treatment of asthma exacerbations. Children age 2 to
18 years presenting to the ED with moderate to severe asthma exacerbations will be included
in the study. Reduction in clinical asthma severity will be measured by change in the
Pulmonary Asthma Score (the respiratory severity score used at the investigators
institution). The need for additional therapies and hospitalization will also be evaluated.