What is the purpose of a nebulizer (nebulized inhalation therapy) machine?

From the Guidelines

A nebulizer machine is used to deliver medication directly to the lungs in the form of a mist that can be inhaled through a mask or mouthpiece, primarily to treat respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, and bronchitis. The main purposes of nebulized inhalation therapy are to deliver high doses of inhaled bronchodilator medication, administer inhaled drugs that cannot be given by other means, and provide treatment for patients who are unable to use other devices or have difficulty with patient cooperation 1.

Key Uses of Nebulizers

• Delivering bronchodilator drugs to patients with asthma or COPD
• Administering inhaled drugs such as recombinant human deoxyribonuclease (rhDNase) or antibiotics
• Treating patients who are unable to use other devices or have difficulty with patient cooperation, such as in acute severe asthma

How Nebulizers Work

Nebulizers convert liquid medication into a fine mist using compressed air or ultrasonic vibrations, allowing the medication to reach deep into the small airways of the lungs where it can work most effectively to reduce inflammation, open airways, or fight infection. A typical treatment session lasts about 10-15 minutes, during which the patient breathes normally through the mouthpiece or mask until all medication is used 1.

Important Considerations

• The volume of fluid in the nebuliser chamber is usually 2.0–4.5 ml, and most wards have nebulisers which only leave 0.5 ml of fluid as residual after nebulisation 1
• For bronchodilators, 10 minutes should be sufficient for nebulisation, while antibiotics, steroids, and pentamidine may need to take longer to use as much drug as possible 1
• Special filters are necessary to prevent antibiotic particles that are harmful to staff or family from getting into the atmosphere, and these filters need to be dried between use to be effective 1

From the FDA Drug Label

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Adults and Children 2 to 12 Years of Age: The usual dosage for adults and for children weighing at least 15 kg is 2.5 mg of albuterol (one vial) administered three to four times daily by nebulization. The flow rate is regulated to suit the particular nebulizer so that albuterol inhalation solution will be delivered over approximately 5 to 15 minutes.

The purpose of a nebulizer machine is to administer medication, such as albuterol, directly to the lungs in the form of a fine mist that can be inhaled over a period of time, typically 5 to 15 minutes. Key points about nebulizer use include:

• Delivery of medication: Nebulizers are used to deliver medication, such as albuterol, to the lungs.
• Inhalation therapy: The medication is administered through nebulization, creating a fine mist that can be inhaled.
• Regulated flow rate: The flow rate of the nebulizer is regulated to ensure the medication is delivered over a specified period, in this case, 5 to 15 minutes 2.

From the Research

Purpose of a Nebulizer

The primary purpose of a nebulizer, also known as nebulized inhalation therapy, is to deliver aerosolized medication directly to the lungs to treat various respiratory diseases 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

Key Characteristics

• Nebulizers are medical devices that convert liquid medication into a fine mist, which can be inhaled directly into the lungs 3.
• The effectiveness of nebulization depends on several factors, including the characteristics of the drug, the anatomy of the airways, the patient's inhalation technique, and the nebulization system employed 7.
• Nebulizers can be used by patients who are unable to use other inhalers, such as those with severe respiratory diseases or physical limitations 4, 6.

Types of Nebulizers

• There are several types of nebulizers, including jet, static, vibrating mesh, ultrasonic, and mesh nebulizers 3, 7.
• Each type of nebulizer has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of nebulizer depends on the specific needs of the patient and the medication being used 3, 7.

Benefits of Nebulized Therapy

• Nebulized therapy allows for higher drug concentrations to be achieved in the bronchial tree and pulmonary bed with fewer adverse effects than systemic therapy 7.
• Nebulizers can provide effective drug delivery with less intensive patient training compared to handheld inhalers 6.
• Nebulized therapy can be used in combination with other inhalers to provide the best combination of efficacy and convenience for some patients 6.

Factors Affecting Drug Delivery Efficiency

• Breathing patterns, respiration rates, airway diameters, and amounts of drugs delivered by nebulizers may be respiratory disease-dependent 3.
• The drug delivery efficiencies of nebulizers depend on breathing patterns, and output rates and breathing patterns should be considered when evaluating the drug delivery efficiencies of nebulizers 3.