The emerging role of nebulization for maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at home

• Main Authors: Deepak Talwar, R Ramanathan, Meena Lopez, Rashmi Hegde, Jaideep Gogtay, Geeta Goregaonkar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2021-01-01
• Series: Lung India
• Subjects: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; home nebulization; inhalation therapy; maintenance nebulization; nebulization; nebulizer
• Online Access: http://www.lungindia.com/article.asp?issn=0970-2113;year=2021;volume=38;issue=2;spage=168;epage=173;aulast=Talwar

Inhalation therapy is the cornerstone of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management. However, for many COPD patients who are managed at home, nebulization therapy offers an effective alternative treatment and fulfills the gap of catering to the specific population of patients who are unable to use handheld inhaler devices appropriately. The present review highlights key aspects, namely selection of the right beneficiaries for home nebulization, available drugs in nebulized formulations for the treatment of COPD, and the importance of care, cleaning, and maintenance, which are prerequisites for ensuring successful nebulization therapy.