Effect of levalbuterol on prehospital patient parameters

This study was performed to determine if levalbuterol improves dyspnea as assessed by prehospital clinical parameters. All EMS patients ≥16 years old given nebulized levalbuterol over 6 months were included in this prospective, open-label work. Data collected included demographics, initial pulse rate (P), respiratory rate (R), patient report of respiratory distress (S), and peak expiratory flow (PF). Outcome variables were P, R, S, and PF after levalbuterol use. Statistical analysis used t tests, with P ≤ .05. One hundred forty-seven patients were enrolled. Mean age was 65.9 years (62.6% women). Significant decreases in P, R, and S, and a significant increase in PF, were noted after levalbuterol administration. Levalbuterol produces significant improvement in EMS respiratory patient parameters. Tachycardia does not appear to be a side effect of levalbuterol administration. The results support the use of levalbuterol in prehospital care.