A 2-year-old child is seen in the emergency department of a local hospital,and croup is diagnosed.The physician orders a dose of racemic epinephrine via a small volume nebulizer to help reduce the subglottic swelling.What size aerosol particle is most likely to deposit in this region,providing the greatest therapeutic benefit to the patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The upper airway (nose and mouth)is efficient in filtering particulate matter,so generally there is 100% deposition in the nose and mouth of particles larger than 10 µm and 15 µm.Particle sizes 5 to 10 µm tend to deposit out in the upper airways and the early airway generations,whereas particles 1 to 5 µm have a greater probability of reaching the lower respiratory tract from the trachea to the lung periphery.Larger or coarser aerosol particles (>5 µm)may be useful for treating the upper airway (nasopharynx and oropharynx).

A 2-Year-Old Child Is Seen in the Emergency Department of a Local