Efficacy of formoterol Turbuhaler in the emergency treatment of patients with obstructive airway diseases.

Dry powder devices are rarely used in the emergency room (ER) treatment of acute and severe bronchoconstriction due to hesitations with respect to clinical efficacy. This study investigated the effects of two inhalers with formoterol in patients visiting the ER Department for acute and severe dyspnoea, mainly exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Two doses of 12mug formoterol were given at enrolment, either via Turbuhaler or via pressurised metered dose inhaler, connected to a spacer device (pMDI+S) in a double-blind way and parallel design.