Abstract
Background: Airway secretions accumulate in the endotracheal tube (ETT) and promote microbial colonization and airway occlusion.
Aims and Objectives: Preplanned substudy of the ‘Preventive Nebulization of Mucolytic Agents and Bronchodilating Drugs in Intubated and Ventilated Intensive Care Unit Patients trial’ (NEBULAE) randomized controlled trial, to assess the effects on ETT secretions accumulations of routine versus on–demand nebulization of acetylcysteine plus salbutamol in critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit.
Methods: This was a single-center substudy of a larger national multicenter trial. Patients were randomized to receive nebulization of acetylcysteine plus salbutamol routinely every 6 hours (routine group), or based on strict clinical indication (on-demand group). The primary end-point was the maximum cross-sectional area (CSA) reduction of the ETT, measured with ex-vivo high resolution computed tomography.
Results: We obtained ETTs from 72 patients, 36 in the routine group and 36 in the on-demand group. The maximum median [25th-75h percentile] CSA reduction was 12 [6-15]% and 9 [6-14]% in the routine and on-demand groups, respectively (P=0.33). Figure 1 illustrates the distribution of secretions in the two groups.
Conclusions: Routine nebulization of acetylcysteine plus salbutamol did not reduce ETT secretions accumulation.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2020; 56: Suppl. 64, 2010.
This abstract was presented at the 2020 ERS International Congress, in session “Respiratory viruses in the "pre COVID-19" era”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2020
