Covid-19 Research

Research Article

Optimizing Respiratory Disease Management: A Systematic Review Comparing Vibrating Mesh Nebulizers and Traditional Nebulizers Devices

Journal of Biomedical Research & Environmental Sciences article abstract with citation details, DOI, publication dates, subject areas, full text links, and references.

View DOI Submit Manuscript

Article Details

Publication record, authors, dates, abstract, and full text access.

Open Access
Article Type Research Article
Subject Medicine Group
OCLC JBRES Record
Laila salameh*, Maysar H. AbuEbaid, Rifat Hamoudi and Bassam Mahboub
Issue: Volume6-Issue9
Pages: 1231-1241
Received: 2025-08-14
Accepted: 2025-09-10
Published: 2025-09-16

Abstract

Background : Efficient bronchodilator delivery plays a crucial role in managing both acute and chronic respiratory conditions, particularly in high-stakes environments like emergency departments and intensive care units, where timely intervention is essential. vibrating mesh nebulizers (VMNs) are able to function on the basis of a vibrating mesh with microscopic holes that generate aerosolized particles, therefore offering much more consistent and efficient medication compared to Jet Nebulizers (JNs).

Objectives: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of VMNs compared to jet nebulizers for management chronic respiratory diseases.
Methods: Four electronic databases, PubMed, Cochrane, Web Science, and Google Scholar were thoroughly searched to conduct a comprehensive literature review from 1st january 2017 till 31st december 2023. The International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42024507795) contains a record of the registered protocol.

Results: We identified 411 studies during the initial search; 9 studies (2.2 %) met the inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review. The review demonstrates that VMNs offer significant advantages over jet nebulizers across various clinical settings.

Conclusion: VMNs provide better lung deposition, more efficient drug delivery, and superior clinical outcomes, particularly in the management of asthma and COPD. Additionally, VMNs are associated with fewer adverse effects and greater patient comfort, which may contribute to improved compliance and treatment success.

FullText HTML FullText PDF DOI: 10.37871/jbres2179 Crossmark

Certificate of Publication

Certificate of Publication

Copyright

© 2025 Salameh L, et al. Distributed under Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 Creative CommonsAttribution

How to cite this article

Salameh L, AbuEbaid MH, Hamoudi R, Mahboub B. Optimizing Respiratory Disease Management: A Systematic Review Comparing Vibrating Mesh Nebulizers and Traditional Nebulizers Devices. J Biomed Res Environ Sci. 2025 Sept 16; 6(9): 1231- 1241. doi: 10.37871/jbres2179, Article ID: JBRES2179, Available at: https://www.jelsciences.com/articles/jbres2179.pdf

Subject area(s)

Respiratory MedicinePulmonology

References

  1. Cazzola M, Page CP, Calzetta L, Matera MG. Pharmacology and therapeutics of bronchodilators. Pharmacol Rev. 2012 Jul;64(3):450-504. doi: 10.1124/pr.111.004580. Epub 2012 May 18. PMID: 22611179.
  2. Longest W, Spence B, Hindle M. Devices for Improved Delivery of Nebulized Pharmaceutical Aerosols to the Lungs. J Aerosol Med Pulm Drug Deliv. 2019 Oct;32(5):317-339. doi: 10.1089/jamp.2018.1508. Epub 2019 Jul 9. PMID: 31287369; PMCID: PMC6781258.
  3. Soyer Ö, Kahveci M, Büyüktiryaki B, Arık Yılmaz E, Karaatmaca B, Esenboğa S, Gür Çetinkaya P, Şahiner ÜM, Şekerel BE. Mesh nebulizer is as effective as jet nebulizer in clinical practice of acute asthma in children. Turk J Med Sci. 2019 Aug 8;49(4):1008-1013. doi: 10.3906/sag-1812-133. PMID: 31269786; PMCID: PMC7018340.
  4. Mišík O, Peštálová A, Belka M, Lizal F. Nebulizer particle size distribution measured by various methods. EPJ Web of Conferences. 2022;264:01023. DOI: 10.1051/epjconf/202226401023
  5. Sosnowski TR. Towards More Precise Targeting of Inhaled Aerosols to Different Areas of the Respiratory System. Pharmaceutics. 2024 Jan 10;16(1):97. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16010097. PMID: 38258107; PMCID: PMC10818612.
  6. Kuo Y-M, Chan W-H, Lin C-W, Huang S-H, Chen C-C. Characterization of Vibrating Mesh Aerosol Generators. Aerosol and Air Quality Research. 2019;19(8):1678-87. DOI: 10.4209/aaqr.2018.11.0436
  7. Denyer J, Dyche T. The Adaptive Aerosol Delivery (AAD) technology: Past, present, and future. J Aerosol Med Pulm Drug Deliv. 2010 Apr;23 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S1-10. doi: 10.1089/jamp.2009.0791. PMID: 20373904; PMCID: PMC3116630.
  8. Labiris NR, Dolovich MB. Pulmonary drug delivery. Part II: the role of inhalant delivery devices and drug formulations in therapeutic effectiveness of aerosolized medications. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2003 Dec;56(6):600-12. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2125.2003.01893.x. PMID: 14616419; PMCID: PMC1884297.
  9. Arunsurat I, Rittayamai N, Chuaychoo B, Tangchityongsiva S, Promsarn S, Yuenyong S, Chow CW, Brochard L. Bronchodilator Efficacy of High-Flow Nasal Cannula in COPD: Vibrating Mesh Nebulizer Versus Jet Nebulizer. Respir Care. 2024 Jan 24;69(2):157-165. doi: 10.4187/respcare.11139. PMID: 37607815; PMCID: PMC10898469.
  10. Arunsurat I, Rittayamai N, Chuaychoo B, Tangchityongsiva S, Promsarn S, Yuenyong S, et al. Bronchodilator Efficacy of High-Flow Nasal Cannula in COPD: Vibrating Mesh Nebulizer Versus Jet Nebulizer. Respiratory Care. 2023;69:respcare.11139.
  11. Avdeev SN, Nuralieva GS, Soe AK, Gainitdinova VV, Fink JB. Comparison of Vibrating Mesh and Jet Nebulizers During Noninvasive Ventilation in Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. J Aerosol Med Pulm Drug Deliv. 2021 Dec;34(6):358-365. doi: 10.1089/jamp.2020.1665. Epub 2021 Apr 13. PMID: 33848441.
  12. Bodet-Contentin L, Guillon A, Boulain T, Frat JP, Garot D, Le Pennec D, Vecellio L, Ehrmann S, Giraudeau B, Tavernier E, Dequin PF. Salbutamol Nebulization During Noninvasive Ventilation in Exacerbated Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Aerosol Med Pulm Drug Deliv. 2019 Jun;32(3):149-155. doi: 10.1089/jamp.2018.1484. Epub 2018 Dec 27. PMID: 30589607.
  13. Cushen B, Alsaid A, Greene G, Costello RW. Response to Bronchodilators Administered via Different Nebulizers in Patients With COPD Exacerbation. Respir Care. 2023 Nov;68(11):1532-1539. doi: 10.4187/respcare.10132. Epub 2023 Jun 6. PMID: 37280080; PMCID: PMC10589110.
  14. Galindo-Filho VC, Alcoforado L, Rattes C, Paiva DN, Brandão SCS, Fink JB, Dornelas de Andrade A. A mesh nebulizer is more effective than jet nebulizer to nebulize bronchodilators during non-invasive ventilation of subjects with COPD: A randomized controlled trial with radiolabeled aerosols. Respir Med. 2019 Jul;153:60-67. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2019.05.016. Epub 2019 May 30. PMID: 31170543.
  15. Lammi MR, Ghonim MA, Johnson J, D'Aquin J, Zamjahn JB, Pellett A, Okpechi SC, Romaine C, Pyakurel K, Luu HH, Shellito JE, Boulares AH, deBoisblanc BP. Acute effect of inhaled iloprost on exercise dynamic hyperinflation in COPD patients: A randomized crossover study. Respir Med. 2021 Apr-May;180:106354. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2021.106354. Epub 2021 Mar 8. PMID: 33721696; PMCID: PMC8425068.
  16. Moustafa IOF, Ali MRA, Al Hallag M, Rabea H, Fink JB, Dailey P, Abdelrahim MEA. Lung deposition and systemic bioavailability of different aerosol devices with and without humidification in mechanically ventilated patients. Heart Lung. 2017 Nov-Dec;46(6):464-467. doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2017.08.004. Epub 2017 Sep 4. PMID: 28882385.
  17. Moustafa IOF, ElHansy MHE, Al Hallag M, Fink JB, Dailey P, Rabea H, Abdelrahim MEA. Clinical outcome associated with the use of different inhalation method with and without humidification in asthmatic mechanically ventilated patients. Pulm Pharmacol Ther. 2017 Aug;45:40-46. doi: 10.1016/j.pupt.2017.04.007. Epub 2017 Apr 20. PMID: 28435031.
  18. Saeed H, Mohsen M, Salah Eldin A, Elberry AA, Hussein RR, Rabea H, Abdelrahim ME. Effects of Fill Volume and Humidification on Aerosol Delivery During Single-Limb Noninvasive Ventilation. Respir Care. 2018 Nov;63(11):1370-1378. doi: 10.4187/respcare.06022. Epub 2018 Aug 14. PMID: 30108135.
  19. Cushen B, Alsaid A, Abdulkareem A, Costello RW. P292 Pilot study to assess bronchodilator response during an acute exacerbation of copd using a vibrating mesh nebuliser versus jet nebuliser for bronchodilator delivery. Thorax. 2016;71:A251.1-A. DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2016-209333.435
  20. Ehrmann S. Vibrating Mesh Nebulisers – Can Greater Drug Delivery to the Airways and Lungs Improve Respiratory Outcomes? European Respiratory & Pulmonary Diseases. 2018;4:33. DOI: doi.org/10.17925/erpd.2018.4.1.33
  21. Alobaidi NY, Stockley JA, Stockley RA, Sapey E. An overview of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Can tests of small airways' function guide diagnosis and management? Ann Thorac Med. 2020 Apr-Jun;15(2):54-63. doi: 10.4103/atm.ATM_323_19. Epub 2020 Apr 3. PMID: 32489439; PMCID: PMC7259399.
  22. Loborec SM, Johnson SE, Keating EA. Financial effect of converting ipratropium-albuterol therapy from inhalers to nebulizer treatments at an academic health system. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2016 Feb 1;73(3):121-5. doi: 10.2146/ajhp150154. PMID: 26796904.
  23. Sterne JAC, Savović J, Page MJ, Elbers RG, Blencowe NS, Boutron I, Cates CJ, Cheng HY, Corbett MS, Eldridge SM, Emberson JR, Hernán MA, Hopewell S, Hróbjartsson A, Junqueira DR, Jüni P, Kirkham JJ, Lasserson T, Li T, McAleenan A, Reeves BC, Shepperd S, Shrier I, Stewart LA, Tilling K, White IR, Whiting PF, Higgins JPT. RoB 2: a revised tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials. BMJ. 2019 Aug 28;366:l4898. doi: 10.1136/bmj.l4898. PMID: 31462531.
  24. Dunne RB, Shortt S. Comparison of bronchodilator administration with vibrating mesh nebulizer and standard jet nebulizer in the emergency department. Am J Emerg Med. 2018 Apr;36(4):641-646. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2017.10.067. Epub 2017 Oct 31. PMID: 29167030.
  25. Igelström E, Campbell M, Craig P, Katikireddi SV. Cochrane's risk of bias tool for non-randomized studies (ROBINS-I) is frequently misapplied: A methodological systematic review. J Clin Epidemiol. 2021 Dec;140:22-32. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2021.08.022. Epub 2021 Aug 23. PMID: 34437948; PMCID: PMC8809341.
  26. Chweich H, Idrees N, Rideout J, Barnewolt B, Rice L, Hill NS. Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing a Vibrating Mesh Nebulizer Compared to a Jet Nebulizer in Severe Asthma Exacerbations. Respir Care. 2024 Feb 28;69(3):345-348. doi: 10.4187/respcare.10980. PMID: 37816543; PMCID: PMC10984592.
  27. Dunne RB, Shortt S. Comparison of bronchodilator administration with vibrating mesh nebulizer and standard jet nebulizer in the emergency department. Am J Emerg Med. 2018 Apr;36(4):641-646. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2017.10.067. Epub 2017 Oct 31. PMID: 29167030.
  28. McGuinness LA, Higgins JPT. Risk-of-bias VISualization (robvis): An R package and Shiny web app for visualizing risk-of-bias assessments. Res Synth Methods. 2021 Jan;12(1):55-61. doi: 10.1002/jrsm.1411. Epub 2020 May 6. PMID: 32336025.
  29. Dolovich MB, Ahrens RC, Hess DR, Anderson P, Dhand R, Rau JL, Smaldone GC, Guyatt G; American College of Chest Physicians; American College of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology. Device selection and outcomes of aerosol therapy: Evidence-based guidelines: American College of Chest Physicians/American College of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology. Chest. 2005 Jan;127(1):335-71. doi: 10.1378/chest.127.1.335. PMID: 15654001.
  30. Rubin BK. Air and soul: the science and application of aerosol therapy. Respir Care. 2010 Jul;55(7):911-21. PMID: 20587104.
  31. Shekunov BY, Chattopadhyay P, Tong HH, Chow AH. Particle size analysis in pharmaceutics: principles, methods and applications. Pharm Res. 2007 Feb;24(2):203-27. doi: 10.1007/s11095-006-9146-7. Epub 2006 Dec 27. PMID: 17191094.
  32. Heyder J. Deposition of inhaled particles in the human respiratory tract and consequences for regional targeting in respiratory drug delivery. Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2004;1(4):315-20. doi: 10.1513/pats.200409-046TA. PMID: 16113452.
  33. Fernández Tena A, Casan Clarà P. Deposition of inhaled particles in the lungs. Arch Bronconeumol. 2012 Jul;48(7):240-6. English, Spanish. doi: 10.1016/j.arbres.2012.02.003. Epub 2012 Mar 30. PMID: 22464044.
  34. Patton JS, Fishburn CS, Weers JG. The lungs as a portal of entry for systemic drug delivery. Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2004;1(4):338-44. doi: 10.1513/pats.200409-049TA. PMID: 16113455.
  35. Ari A, Atalay OT, Harwood R, Sheard MM, Aljamhan EA, Fink JB. Influence of nebulizer type, position, and bias flow on aerosol drug delivery in simulated pediatric and adult lung models during mechanical ventilation. Respir Care. 2010 Jul;55(7):845-51. PMID: 20587095.
  36. Miller DD, Amin MM, Palmer LB, Shah AR, Smaldone GC. Aerosol delivery and modern mechanical ventilation: in vitro/in vivo evaluation. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003 Nov 15;168(10):1205-9. doi: 10.1164/rccm.200210-1167OC. Epub 2003 Jul 31. PMID: 12893644.
  37. Dhanani J, Fraser JF, Chan HK, Rello J, Cohen J, Roberts JA. Fundamentals of aerosol therapy in critical care. Crit Care. 2016 Oct 7;20(1):269. doi: 10.1186/s13054-016-1448-5. PMID: 27716346; PMCID: PMC5054555.
  38. Lethem MI. The role of tracheobronchial mucus in drug administration to the airways. Advanced drug delivery reviews. 1993;11(3):271-98. DOI: 10.1016/0169-409X(93)90013-T
  39. Hashmi N, Matthews G, Martin A, Lansley A, Forbes B. Effect of mucus on transepithelial drug delivery. J Aerosol Med. 1999;12:139.
  40. Labiris NR, Dolovich MB. Pulmonary drug delivery. Part I: physiological factors affecting therapeutic effectiveness of aerosolized medications. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2003 Dec;56(6):588-99. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2125.2003.01892.x. PMID: 14616418; PMCID: PMC1884307.
  41. Rubin BK. Therapeutic aerosols and airway secretions. J Aerosol Med. 1996 Spring;9(1):123-30. doi: 10.1089/jam.1996.9.123. PMID: 10160202.
Publish with JBRES — Peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary Open Access with rapid review, DOI, and global visibility.
Double-Blind CrossRef DOI Discoverable
Submit Manuscript Membership