Comparative evaluation of market spacer and home made spacer in the management of bronchial asthma.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: A study was conducted to compare the efficacy of market available spacer (with valve) and home made spacer (without valve)--Bislery bottle. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifteen patients of bronchial asthma were included in the study. With the use of both devices there was significant bronchodilator effect. The reversibility using Bislery bottle was same as with spacer (market available) while comparing the FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC %, FEF 25-75 and PEFR value. RESULT: The difference in percent change in reversibility values by both the devices was not statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We concluded that the Bislery bottle (without valve) is very cheap compared to market-available spacer and is equally effective which, therefore, can be substituted in bronchial asthma patients, who are unable to afford the cost of market available spacers.