Does heliox administered by low-flow nasal cannula improve respiratory distress in infants with respiratory syncytial virus acute bronchiolitis? A randomized controlled trial

Objectives: The aim of our study is to evaluate whether the use of heliox (79:21) delivered through a low flow nasal cannula would improve respiratory distress in infants with acute bronchiolitis caused by respiratory syncytial virus. Methods: We have conducted a prospective randomized controlled study. All patients fulfilled inclusion criteria were randomized to either heliox (79:21) or air via NC at 2 L/min for a continuous 24hours. Measurements were taken at baseline, after 2hours and at the end of the 24hours. Results: We have included 104 patients into our study. The MCA-S did not show any significant difference between the two groups after 2hours 4.3 vs. 4.1 (P = .78), or at 24hours after 4.2 vs. 4.3 (P = .89). No difference was found in the proportion of participants progressed to MV, n-CPAP or oxygen via nasal cannula (RR 1.0, 0.86 and 0.89) (P = 1.0, .77 and .73). There was no notable reduction in length of treatment in Heliox group 2.42 days vs. 2.79 days in air group P = .65. The in oxygen saturation, PaO2, and PaCO2 did not to have any statistical difference between the two studied groups after 2hours and 24hours of treatment. Conclusion: Our data showed absence of any beneficial effect of heliox in a concentration (79:21) delivered through low flow nasal cannula in terms of respiratory distress improvement in infants with RSV acute bronchiolitis. (C) 2017 Asociacion Espanola de Pediatria. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U.