Curative effect of ambroxol in large dose on ventilator-associated pneumonia in the elderly / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the curative effect of large dose ambroxol on ventilatorassociated pneumonia(VAP)in the elderly.Methods From January 2009 to January 2011,76patients with VAP treated by ambroxol were randomly divided into general dose group and large dose group(n =38 for each group).General dose group received 60 mg ambroxol in 250 ml normal saline,and large dose group received 500 mg ambroxol in 250 ml normal saline,intravenous drip,twice daily for 14 d.The other therapeutic measures in all patients were accorded to 2005 guidelines for the hospital-acquired pneumonia.Procalcitonin(PCT)and clinical pulmonary infection score(CPIS)were used to detect the degree of pulmonary infection.Treatment effects were described with duration of mechanical ventilation,rates of tracheotomy intubation and second endotracheal intubation.Results PCT concentrations and CPIS in large dose group during treatment of 5 d[(0.79±0.68)mg/L and (5.50±2.08)scores]and 14 d[(0.44 ± 0.36)mg/L and(5.42 ± 2.23)scores]were significantly lower than in general dose group at 5 d[(1.18±0.97)mg/L and(6.61±2.32)scores]and 14 d[(1.11±0.91)mg/L and(6.47±2.17)scores](t =2.065,2.189,4.220 and 2.090,P＜0.05),and the level of PCT in large dose group during treatment of 14 d was decreased as compared with 5 d(P＜0.05).The time of mechanical ventilation,rates of tracheotomy intubation and second endotracheal intubation in large dose group[(6.03± 1.87)d,7.9％ and 10.5％]were declined as compared with general dose group[(7.24±2.72)d,26.3％ and 31.6％](t=2.264,x2 =4.547,5.066,P＜0.05).Conclusions Ambroxol in large dose for the treatment of VAP have better clinical efficacy than in general dose.