Comparison Between 0.9% Normal Saline and 0.3 % Hypertonic Saline Nebulization in Acute Bronchiolitis in Terms of Mean Length of Hospital Stay.
Abstract
Introduction: Hypertonic saline draws fluid from epithelium reducing edema and preventing necrosis that is helpful in healing epithelium. It may play an immunomodulator role by suppressing inflammatory markers released by neutrophils.
Objectives: To compare the outcome when nebulized with 3% hypertonic saline as compared to 0.9% normal saline in the terms of mean length of stay in hospitalized children suffering from bronchiolitis.
Study design: Randomized controlled trial.
Settings: Department of Paediatric Medicine, Ghurki trust teaching hospital, Lahore.
Study duration: 29th December 2023 to 28th June 2024.
Materials & Methods: A total of 234 (117 in each group) children of age <24 months, both genders presenting with bronchiolitis were included. Group A was nebulized with 4 ml 3% hypertonic saline every 6 hours and Group B with 4 ml normal saline every 6 hours. Length of hospital stay was noted in hours after discharging the patient according to outcome criteria.
Results: The mean age of patients in group A was 14.72 ± 4.33 months and in group B was 15.0 ± 4.59 months. Mean length of hospital stay in Group A (hypertonic saline) was 1.83 ± 1.13 days while in Group B (normal saline) was 3.37 ± 1.39 days (p-value = 0.0001).
Conclusion: This study concluded that mean length of hospital stay is less in patients nebulized with 3% hypertonic saline in treatment of Bronchiolitis as compared to 0.9% normal saline.
