Better breathing devices for severe asthma attacks in the emergency room

Plain-English translation of NCT05691218 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated June 2025 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.

What is this trial?

When you have a severe asthma attack, doctors treat it with a medication called terbutaline delivered through a nebulizer (a machine that turns liquid medicine into a mist you breathe in). This trial is testing whether a newer type of nebulizer — one that uses vibration to deliver the medicine more effectively — works better than the standard nebulizer. Some patients will also receive high-flow heated and humidified oxygen to help them breathe more easily.

Current asthma attack treatment in emergency departments hasn't changed much in recent years, and many patients still need to be hospitalized or don't improve quickly enough. Early research suggests that the vibrating mesh nebulizer may deliver medicine to your lungs more effectively and help you recover faster, but this needs to be proven in a careful study.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are 18 years old or older
you came to the emergency department with a moderate to severe asthma attack
your symptoms haven't improved enough 60 minutes after your first round of asthma medication
you meet at least one sign of a severe attack, such as fast breathing (over 22 breaths per minute), low oxygen levels, or difficulty speaking
you have not had an asthma attack in the past 30 days

You likely don't qualify if…

you have signs of a life-threatening emergency, such as extreme drowsiness, confusion, or no lung sounds on exam
your doctor suspects your breathing problem is caused by something other than asthma, such as pneumonia, heart failure, or a blood clot in your lungs
you are allergic to terbutaline or any ingredient in the medication
you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or a woman of childbearing age not using effective contraception
you have severe confusion, very low blood pressure, or other serious medical conditions that would make participation unsafe

What participation looks like

If you qualify and agree to join, you will be randomly assigned to receive one of three treatments: standard nebulizer therapy, the newer vibrating mesh nebulizer, or the vibrating mesh nebulizer plus high-flow oxygen. Your doctors will monitor how quickly you improve, how your oxygen levels change, and whether you need to be admitted to the hospital. The trial involves 60 patients total, and your care will be closely watched in the emergency department.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 5, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

France

University Hospital of Poitiers, Poitiers, France

Key details

Sponsor

Poitiers University Hospital

Enrollment target

~60 participants

Started

February 2024

Primary completion

February 2026

This trial's estimated completion date has passed — the record may not be fully up to date.

Age range

18 Years and older

Last updated on clinicaltrials.gov in June 2025.

Contact the research team directly

Reach out to the team running this trial. Response times vary — some teams are faster than others.

Central contact

Nicolas MARJANOVIC, MD PHD

CHU Poitiers

Interested in joining?

Tell us you're interested and we'll help connect you with the research team. We'll walk you through what to expect first — no email needed to get started.

View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov