Hypothesis:
A clinically significant difference exists between albuterol treatments with nebulized 3% saline versus standard saline, for improvements in the patient's modified Borg dyspnea score during an acute exacerbation of COPD.Study
Population:
This study will involve 146 patients admitted to Doctors Hospital in Columbus, Ohio from September 2014 through September 2015 with a clinical diagnosis of an acute exacerbation of COPD, defined as an increase in the patient's dyspnea, cough, or change in sputum consistency/volume/color from the patient's baseline during stable conditions.
Study Design:
Patients will be randomly assigned to 2.5 mg albuterol treatments with either normal saline, as is the standard, or hypertonic saline.
Once the patient is enrolled, they will be randomly assigned to 2.5 mg albuterol treatments with either normal saline, as is the standard, or hypertonic saline. They will then receive the 2.5mg albuterol treatment, and saline solution as determined by the randomization plan (Group 1 will receive 0.9% saline and Group 2 will receive 3% saline), every six hours for at least the first 24 hours, with allowance for PRN (pro re nata= as needed) use every four hours by patient request.
The patient's dyspnea will be evaluated prior to starting the treatment and after the intervention period is completed using the Modified Borg Dyspnea Scale.
