Effect of salbutamol on oxygen saturation in COPD
Charoenratanakul, S.; Borrirukwanit, K.
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand 79(4): 218-221
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-2208 PMID: 8708506 Document Number: 460698
The effect of nebulized salbutamol on oxygen saturation in COPD was evaluated in this study. Twenty patients aged 56-75 years with stable COPD were recruited to the study. All patients received 5 mg of salbutamol nebulizer driven by oxygen at 8 L/min. The SaO-2 was then measured continuously and readings were taken before and every minute after salbutamol inhalation by face mask. Following treatment, mean SaO-2 was significantly lower than preinhalation values. The desaturation occurred from 3 minutes and reached the maximum desaturation at 15 minutes postinhalation. At 30 minutes, SaO-2 had returned to baseline values. The findings suggest that salbutamol nebulization induced prolonged desaturation in COPD.