The Adjunctive Effect of Nebulized Furosemide in COPD Exacerbation: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVE:

To examine the effect of nebulized furosemide as an adjunct to the conventional treatment of patients with COPD exacerbation in an emergency department.

METHODS:

In this randomized double-blinded clinical trial, patients with COPD exacerbation were randomized to receive 40 mg nebulized furosemide or placebo as an adjunct to the conventional treatments. We recorded changes in dyspnea severity (measured with a visual analog scale), FEV₁, arterial blood gas measurements, blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing frequency at baseline and 1 hour after treatment.

RESULTS:

We randomized 100 patients, whose mean age was 73.1 ± 8.7 y. The measured variables all improved significantly in both groups. FEV₁, dyspnea, pH, mean blood pressure, and heart rate improved significantly more in the furosemide group.

CONCLUSIONS:

Nebulized furosemide benefits patients with COPD exacerbation.