AeroChamber ® Valved Holding Chamber (VHC)

INTRODUCTION: Inhaled bronchodilators are one of the most frequently prescribed medications for children hospitalized with respiratory disorders. Historically, the most common method of administration has been via the small-volume nebulizer (SVN). The methods and effectiveness by which these medications are administered to pediatric patients has been evaluated extensively over the last decade. There is a large body of literature that indicated that the metered-dose inhaler with valved holding chamber (MDI_VHC) is at least as effective as SVN for the delivery of bronchodilators to infants, children and adults. In the past it was thought that young children were unable to use MDIs because they could not coordinate inhalation and that these devices would not be effective in delivery of bronchodilators. However, with the use of VHCs with face masks, infants and small children can now be successfully treated via MDI.