Administering aerosol medication during high-flow therapy can be achieved in several ways,1 but there are challenges

Remove high-flow to administer aerosol medication1,2

  • Temporary removal of high-flow oxygen therapy is considered by some as a risk factor that might contribute to the worsening of a patient’s respiratory failure1
  • Patients, especially young children, may not tolerate a facemask or mouthpiece for long periods3
  • Aerosol delivery via mouthpiece is not a viable option for infants and small children3,4
  • When used, mask or mouthpiece interfaces may cause distress in children3,5

Use nebuliser with facemask placed over the nasal cannula1

  • Administering aerosol medication via facemask or mouthpiece and nebuliser with concurrent high-flow is associated with low drug delivery in vitro models6,7
  • Recommendations state that placing a nebuliser with a mask or mouthpiece while the patient is concurrently receiving high-flow oxygen therapy significantly reduces the inhaled dose of the aerosolised drug to a negligible level, and this practice is not recommended8

In-line nebulisation during high-flow1

  • Administering aerosol via jet nebuliser placed in-line in a high-flow circuit is associated with low drug delivery (1.0% of nominal dose; study performed in healthy subjects)9
  • The gas driving jet nebulisers can interfere with high-flow oxygen content, humidity and temperature10
  • Jet nebulisers generate noise,11 which may make it difficult to maintain a calm environment for patients and staff
  • It is necessary to open the high-flow circuit to refill the medication cup of a jet nebuliser12


Aerogen provides effective medication delivery during high-flow therapy9,13–17†

Effectiveness

In studies, in-line aerosol drug delivery with Aerogen during high-flow was associated with: 

~4x more medication delivered to the lungs (3.6%) with Aerogen during high-flow versus a jet nebuliser in healthy subjects (1.0%); P<0.05.†9

3.5–17% medication delivery to the lungs, depending on flow rates†13

In-line Aerogen supports bronchodilator response during high-flow therapy: significant improvement in lung function (FEV1, FVC and PEF) following salbutamol nebulisation via high-flow versus high-flow alone in patients with severe exacerbation of COPD16

Discover more

A representative image of a SPECT-CT analysis of radiolabeled aerosol deposition following administration via Aerogen during high-flow in a healthy subject.9

Patient comfort


Use of the in-line Aerogen Solo to deliver nebulised therapy resulted in greater comfort and satisfaction versus use of a jet nebuliser plus facemask in critically ill infants receiving high-flow respiratory support.18

Discover more

Patients with discomfort suggestive of pain and requiring intervention (COMFORT–behaviour scale score ≥17‡ AND comfort numerical rating score ≤6)18

Ease of use

Aerogen simplifies the workflow

Quick and easy to set up17

Fits in-line with no added flow17

No interruption of therapy during administration of medication17

The circuit can be maintained during aerosol therapy17

Virtually silent,17,19 keeping a calm environment for your patients

Higher lung deposition with an in-line Aerogen vs jet nebuliser in healthy subjects9

Aerogen Solo can support aerosol drug delivery at every stage of a patient's respiratory journey: during invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and non-invasive supports such as non-invasive ventilation (NIV), HF and when self-ventilating (SV).17


  • Quick and easy to set up17
  • Virtually silent17,18
  • 28 days intermittent or 7 days continuous use17
  • No added flow required17
  • Refill medication cup without opening the circuit17
  • 6 mL cup17

Discover Aerogen Solo

Aerogen Solo, virtually silent
Invasive mechanical ventilation enquiries

Enquiries

The Aerogen team and our representatives are available globally to answer your questions, provide an online demonstration and place orders

How can we help

†Study performed in healthy subjects.
‡Rated on a scale ranging from 6 (best comfort imaginable) to 30 (no comfort).


HF, high-flow; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC, forced vital capacity; IMV, invasive mechanical ventilation; IQR, interquartile range; JN, jet nebuliser; NIV, non-invasive ventilation; PEF, peak expiratory flow; PICU, paediatric intensive care unit; pMDI, pressurised metered dose inhaler; SPECT-CT, single-photon emission computed tomography-computed tomography; SV, self ventilating.

  1. Calabrese C, Annunziata A, Mariniello DF, et al. Front Med (Lausanne). 2023;9:1098427.
  2. Li J, Tu M, Yang L, et al. Respir Care. 2021;66(9):1416-1424.
  3. Li J, Fink JB. Ann Transl Med. 2021;9(7):590.
  4. Gardenhire DS, Nozart L, Hinski S. A Guide to Aerosol Delivery Devices for Respiratory Therapists, 5th Edition American Association for Respiratory Care, 2023.
  5. Amirav I, Newhouse MT. Expert Rev Respir Med. 2008;2:597-605.
  6. Bennett G, Joyce M, Fernández EF, MacLoughlin R. Intensive Care Med Exp. 2019;7(1):20.
  7. Réminiac F, Vecellio L, Loughlin R, et al. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2017;52:337-344.
  8. Li J, Liu K, Lyu S, et al. Ann Intensive Care. 2023;13(1):63.
  9. Dugernier J, Hesse M, Jumetz T, et al. J Aerosol Med Pulm Drug Deliv. 2017;30(5):349-358.
  10. Reminiac F, Vecellio L, Bodet-Contentin L, et al. Ann Intensive Care. 2018;8(1):128.
  11. Lin H-L, Fink JB, Ge H. Ann Transl Med. 2021;9(7):588. 
  12. Wang R, Leime CO, Gao W, MacLoughlin R. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2023;58(3):878-886.
  13. Alcoforado L, Ari A, Barcelar JM, et al. Pharmaceutics. 2019;11(7):320.
  14. Li J, Zhao M, Hadeer M, Luo J, Fink JB. Respiration. 2019;98(5):401-409.
  15. Beuvon C, Coudroy R, Bardin J, et al. Respir Care. 2021;respcare.09242.
  16. Li J, Chen Y, Ehrmann S, Wu J, Xie L, Fink JB. Pharmaceutics. 2021;13(10):1655.
  17. 30-354 Rev U Aerogen Solo System Instruction Manual.
  18. Valencia-Ramos J, Ochoa Sangrador C, García M, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2022;107(12):1122-1127.
  19. Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID). How loud is too loud? Available at: https://rnid.org.uk/information-and-support/ear-health/protect-your-hearing/howloud-is-too-loud/ Accessed: November 2023.

GL-2369-1-EN