[Continuous fenoterol inhalation by children with severe acute asthma: immediate clinical effects].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the alterations of heart rate, blood pressure, psychological aspects and oxygen saturation after continuous fenoterol inhalation (0.5 mg/Kg) by children with severe acute asthma. METHODS We studied 30 patients with severe acute asthma who were treated at the pediatric ward of Hospital Universitário-UFMS. The patients inhaled 0.5 mg/Kg of fenoterol (two drops/Kg) during one hour. Psychological aspects, oxygen arterial saturation, heart rate and blood pressure were evaluated at three different moments: before, after and one hour after the fenoterol inhalation. RESULTS There were 17 males (56.6%) and 13 females (43.4%). Sleepiness was observed in 16 (53.3%), psychomotor agitation in one (33%) and nausea and vomiting in 12 patients (40%). The average of oxygen arterial saturation increased from 90.9 +/- 2.8% to 92.7 +/- 2.5% (P<0.05) after inhalation. There was statistically significant increase in the average heart rate before and after inhalation (139.5 +/- 13.5 beats/min, 166.5 +/- 11.1 beats/min, respectively), P<0.05. A significant decrease in blood pressure rate was observed from 117.56 +/- 10.3 / 74.6 +/- 7 mmHg, to 107.6 +/- 11 / 63.6 +/- 9.3 mmHg (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Continuous fenoterol (0.5 mg/Kg) inhalation by children with severe acute asthma caused sleepiness, nausea, vomits, palpitation and decrease in blood pressure rate. The authors suggest that patients submitted to this treatment need clinical monitorship at hospital settings. Children with concomitant diseases such as diarrhea, vomits, and dehydration require special attention.