Comparison of Effect of Salbutamol and Isoprenaline on Spirometry and Blood-gas Tensions in Bronchial Asthma

Abstract

Mothers adopting this method, however, were more inclined to clean the utensils better beforehand, and they stored them in solution, thus avoiding subsequent contamination.Undoubtedly, many factors are involved in achieving satisfactory results by either method-social class, educational level, mothercraft advice obtained, and so on. It may even be that (in the words of one of the doctors involved in the project) "a 'method of sterilization,' presumed to be based on chemistry, is followed more carefully and thoroughly than the use of a 'procedure' (boiling) which is regarded more as a domestic activity." Over one-fifth of babies had suffered from diarrhoea and vomiting that was usually serious enough for the mother to consult her doctor. This can be taken as evidence that gastroenteritis is not entirely a thing of the past, even though the consequences may be less serious than in former days.The basic problem highlighted by this study is that so many mothers failed to carry out sterilization procedures effectively in spite of the fact that they had received "health education" in this field. Information of how to do it and why it should be done had been put across but the resultant behaviour did not seem to reach the necessary standard. This is a fundamental problem of health education-the communication of ideas is insufficient in itself and must be associated with a desire to change habits. There would seem to be a need for (a) straightforward yet effective health education materials, and (b) professional backing so that mothers adopt a routine which gives protection to their babies. Why are the results so bad when effective methods are readily available?While it is not possible to indicate individually the many people who willingly co-operated in this study, we would like to express our gratitude and indebtedness to them. The study would obviously have been impossible without the joint effort of doctors, health visitors, and technicians in the local authority and public health laboratory services.

Cardiorespiratory effects of intravenous isoprenaline and salbutamol in dogs

“…He therefore concluded that the addition of an a-adrenoceptor stimulating drug (phenylephrine) probably prevented the vasodilatation induced by isoprenaline and so prevented the fall in oxygen tension. It is of interest that in this study a rise in pulmonary artery pressure occurred only with salbutamol and that there was a minimal fall in arterial 02 tension with this drug; these findings agree with those of Palmer et al (1970) for salbutamol in bronchial asthma patients. As can be seen from Table 3, which combines the data of Finlay, Wightman & Sykes (1970) with our studies, all the above-mentioned changes are dose dependent.…”

“…It has also been suggested that the increase in the number of deaths due to asthma may be associated with the more frequent use of isoprenaline inhalers Speizer, Doll, Heaf & Strang, 1968). A new potent bronchodilator, salbutamol, has been recently introduced (Brittain, Farmer, Jack, Martin & Simpson, 1968) which, it has been suggested, does not have a significant effect on the cardiovascular system and does not produce a fall in arterial oxygen tension (Palmer & Diament, 1969;Palmer, Legge, Hamilton & Diament, 1970).…”

Cardiorespiratory Responses to an I.V. Infusion of Dobutamine in the Intact Anaesthetized Dog

“…The significant decrease in arterial oxygen tension observed in this study during the infusion of dobutamine at 15 and 30 /ig kg" 1 min" 1 has also been shown during the infusion of dopamine to patients (Lemaire et al, 1976) and during the infusion of isoprenaline to dogs (Finlay, Wightman and Sykes, 1970) and to patients (Knudson and Constantine, Palmer and Diament, 1968;Palmer et al, 1970). However, unlike that of dopamine, the action of dobutamine does not appear to depend on the release of endogenous catecholamines (Bodem, Skelton and Sonnenblick, 1974) nor, as in the case of dopamine, is it likely to be further converted to another active form.…”

Salbutamol

“…Ten of 12 patients with chronic airways obstruction other than asthma who inhaled an unstated dose of salbutamol showed an average fall of 6.3 mm Hg. Palmer et al (1970) have compared the cardiovascular and respiratory effects (measured simultaneously) of aerosol inhalation of 0.2 mg salbutamol and 1 mg isoprenaline in the same 11 chronic asthmatic patients. In the other brief report, the Pa~fell (range 2.5 to 11 mm Hg) in 7 of 9 patients with emphysema following inhalation of 0.2 mg salbutamol ; P aC0 2 increased (range 2 to 10 mm Hg) in 6 of the 9 patients.…”