Pulmonary

For adequate pulmonary drug therapy, choosing the appropriate type of inhaler is just as important as selecting the right type of drug. This chapter on pulmonary drug delivery devices provides the background knowledge that is required for making a suitable inhaler choice and giving a proper instruction for its adequate use. Different types of inhalers may be available for the same type of drug and the prescriber has to ascertain that the requirements for correct operation match the cognitive, inspiratory and mechanical skills of the patient. To make a good choice and give the correct instructions for use, the instructor therefore has to know the working principle of various pulmonary drug delivery devices, understand the mechanisms that govern aerosol deposition in the respiratory tract, be able to interpret different aerosol characterisation definitions correctly and know how to operate selected devices best for an optimal therapy. This chapter aims to familiarize instructors with this complex matter.