Inhalation with a metered-dose aerosol inhaler

Authors: E.V. Poplavets

Editor: V.V. Rednenko

Equipment required to demonstrate this skill:

Metered-dose aerosol inhaler

Clinical situation:

The patient was diagnosed with bronchial asthma. Berotek treatment prescribed in the form of an inhaler. Teach the patient how to use the inhaler

The order of the skill:

Instruct the patient for use this inhaler and demonstrate the correct inhalation technique step by step:

• Remove the protective cap from the inhaler attachment;
• Make sure the inner and outer surfaces of the inhaler tip are clean;
• Shake the can vigorously in a vertical motion;
• Turn the balloon upside down with the inhaler nozzle;
• Hold the balloon vertically between your thumb, middle and forefinger so that your thumb is under the inhaler attachment;
• Spray once into the air (for checking of the functionality of the device and filling the mouthpiece);
• Take a deep breath and exhale completely through the nose.
• Grip the mouthpiece with the lips
• Pushes down on the bottle (press the bottom part of the balloon to dispense a dose of the drug), and inhales as slowly and deeply as possible.
• Have the person hold their breath for about 10 seconds and then exhale slowly with pursed lips.
• Remove the inhaler from the mouth
• Repeat for each “puff” ordered, waiting 5 minutes or as prescribed between puffs. If a second dose is needed, wait about 30 seconds while holding the balloon upright;
• Cover the inhaler attachment with the protective cap

Sources used:

Registries of the UE Center for Expertise and Testing in Healthcare, instructions for the medical use of the drug Salbutamol (aerosol for inhalation 100 μg / dose).