Comparison of Effects of Inhaled Salbutamol with Placebo in Management of Transient Tachypnea of Newborn

Abstract

Objective: To compare the outcome of inhaled Salbutamol (Albuterol) with normal saline (Placebo) in terms of mean duration of oxygen therapy and mean hospital stay in newborns with transient tachypnea of the newborn.

Study Design: Quasi-experimental study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Paediatrics, Islamic International Medical College, Trust Pakistan Railway
General Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jan to Dec 2019.

Methodology: One hundred newborns meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled. All newborns included in this study had
X-ray chests. Neonates were divided into Groups A and B by lottery method. Group-A received inhaled Salbutamol plus 2 ml normal saline 0.9% by nebulizer, and Group-B received 0.9% normal saline by nebulizer six hourly and outcomes were
recorded.

Results: In this study, 32(32%) patients were female newborns, and 68(68%) were male babies. 97(97%) babies were delivered by Caesarean section. In Salbutamol-Group, the mean duration of oxygen inhalation was 20.86±10.79 hours, while in PlaceboGroup, the mean was 40.42±16.64 hours (p-value<0.05). Similarly, in the Salbutamol-Group the mean hospital duration was 46.70±31.93 hours, while in the Placebo- Group, the mean was 74.08±54.76 hours (p-value<0.05)

Conclusion: This study concluded that Salbutamol inhalation significantly reduces the need for oxygen and hospital stay
compared with Placebo in newborns with Transient Tachypnea of the newborn.