RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The Importance of Nonelectrostatic Materials in Holding Chambers for Delivery of Hydrofluoroalkane Albuterol JF Respiratory Care FD American Association for Respiratory Care SP 503 OP 510 VO 51 IS 5 A1 Joseph L Rau A1 Dominic P Coppolo A1 Mark W Nagel A1 Valentina I Avvakoumova A1 Cathy C Doyle A1 Kimberly J Wiersema A1 Jolyon P Mitchell YR 2006 UL http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/51/5/503.abstract AB INTRODUCTION: Electrostaticattraction of aerosolized particles to the inner walls of an aerosol holding chamber (HC) made from a nonconducting material can reduce medication delivery, particularly if there is a delay between actuation and inhalation. OBJECTIVE: Compare total emitted mass and fine-particle mass (mass of particles < 4.7 μm) of hydrofluoroalkane-propelled albuterol from similar-sized HCs manufactured from conductive material (Vortex), charge-dissipative material (AeroChamber Max), and nonconductive material (OptiChamber Advantage, ProChamber, Breathrite, PocketChamber, and ACE), with and without wash/rinse pretreatment of the HC interior with ionic detergent, and with 2-s and 5-s delays between actuation and inhalation. METHODS: All the HCs were evaluated (1) directly from their packaging (with no wash/rinse pretreatment) and (2) after washing with ionic detergent and rinsing and drip-drying. We used an apparatus that interfaced between the HC mouthpiece and the induction port of an 8-stage Andersen cascade impactor to simulate a poorly coordinated patient, with delays of 2 s and 5 s between actuation and inhalation/sampling, at 28.3 L/min. RESULTS: With the 2-s delay, the delivered fine-particle mass per actuation, before and after (respectively) wash/rinse pretreatment was: AeroChamber Max: 23.8 ± 4.8 μg, 21.5 ± 3.2 μg; Vortex: 16.2 ± 1.7 μg, 15.5 ± 2.0 μg; OptiChamber Advantage: 2.6 ± 1.2 μg, 6.7 ± 2.3 μg; ProChamber: 1.6 ± 0.4 μg, 5.1 ± 2.5 μg; Breathrite: 2.0 ± 0.9 μg, 3.2 ± 1.8 μg; PocketChamber: 3.4 ± 1.6 μg, 1.7 ± 1.6 μg; ACE: 4.5 ± 0.9 μg, 5.4 ± 2.9 μg. Similar trends, but greater reduction in aerosol delivery, were observed with the 5-s delay. Significantly greater fine-particle mass was delivered from HCs made from conducting or chargedissipative materials than from those made from nonconductive polymers, even after wash/rinse pretreatment (p < 0.01). The fine-particle mass was also significantly greater from the AeroChamber Max than from the Vortex, irrespective of wash/rinse pretreatment or delay interval (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: HCs made from electrically conductive materials emit significantly greater fineparticle mass, with either a 2-s or 5-s delay, than do HCs made from nonconducting materials, even with wash/rinse pretreatment.