Levalbuterol versuss levalbuterol plus ipratropium in the treatment of severe acute asthma.

Background: The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) Expert Panel Report 3 guidelines advise the addition of ipratropium bromide to short-acting β-agonist therapy for the treatment of patients with severe acute asthma exacerbation.

Methods: This was a prospective, double-blind, randomized, controlled study involving 141 adults, presenting to two EDs with acute severe asthma exacerbation. Patients were treated using a standardized pathway with levalbuterol plus ipratropium or levalbuterol alone.