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Mucoactive agents for adults with acute lung conditions: A systematic review.
Heart Lung. 2018 Nov 05;:
Authors: Tarrant BJ, Maitre CL, Romero L, Steward R, Button BM, Thompson BR, Holland AE
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Inhaled mucoactive agents are used to enhance airway clearance, however efficacy and safety are unclear in adults with acute respiratory conditions.
METHODS: We systematically reviewed randomized controlled trials assessing respiratory function; safety; length of stay (LOS); mucus; radiology; and oxygenation.
RESULTS: No adverse events were reported for dornase alfa (n = 63), N-acetylcysteine (NAC, n = 50), ambroxol (n = 140), hypertonic saline (n = 33), heparin (n = 384), mannitol (n = 20) or isotonic saline. During invasive ventilation, NAC, dornase alfa and saline had no effect on mucus. Postoperatively, mucus characteristics improved with NAC (n = 10). Ambroxol lowered LOS (mean difference 4 days) and halved complications following lung carcinoma resection (n = 140). Heparin improved ventilator-free days (n = 130, mean difference 3.9-4.6) and intensive care LOS (n = 223, 3.2 days), but not ventilator-acquired pneumonia.
CONCLUSION: Dornase alfa, hypertonic saline and NAC were ineffective for atelectasis/mucus plugging while intubated. More data are required to support using NAC, ambroxol and heparin during acute illness.
PMID: 30409442 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]