Differential response of wheezes and ruttles to anticholinergics.

Computerised breath sounds analysis was used to assess the response of infants with wheeze and ruttles to the drug ipratropium bromide. A mean decrease in breath sounds intensity occurred in infants with ruttles after five minutes (20.5 dB), but not until 20 minutes in those with wheeze (8.1 dB). This differential response may be related to different underlying pathophysiology.