Hypertonic saline given to children with bronchiolitis in the emergency department decreases hospital admissions, according to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics.
Researchers conducted a randomized clinical trial during three consecutive bronchiolitis seasons from March 2008 through April 2011. A total of 197 patients received 0.9 percent sodium chloride — the normal saline group. And 211 received 4 mL of 3 percent sodium chloride — the hypertonic saline group.
The study found that hospital admission rate in the hypertonic saline group was 28.9 percent as compared to 42.6 percent in the normal saline group. However, there was no significant difference in length of hospital stay between the two groups.
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