Effect of bronchodilator on bronchial mucus transport velocity during inhalational anesthesia

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Volatile-based anesthesia resulted in a significantly reduced cilia beat frequency. This study was to evaluate the effect of bronchodilator on bronchial mucus transport (BMT) distance measured with a bronchoscope during Inhalational anesthesia. METHODS: Twenty-four adult patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery under inhalation anesthesia using sevoflurane and nitrous oxide were included. Twenty minutes after tracheal intubation, they were manually inspired without nebulization of salbutamol (control group n = 12) or with nebulization of salbutamol(salbutamol group n = 12). And then a single drop of 0.02 ml methylene blue was applied to the posterior mucosal surface of the right main bronchus 5 cm away from the carina under the bronchoscope. The distance of dye movement was measured 5 min after its application. RESULTS: BMT distance and velocity of methylene blue during 5min were 6.2 +/- 3.1 mm and 1.2 +/- 0.6 mm/min in control group, and 23.3 +/- 16.6 mm and 4.7 +/- 3.3 mm/min in salbutamol group, respectively. BMT distance and velocity of methylene blue in salbutamol group were longer and faster than those in control group(P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Salbutamol facilitates the transport of bronchial secretion under sevoflurane-based inhalational anesthesia in term of BMT velocity.