ABSTRACT
Acetylcysteine is a potent mucolytic agent. When utilized as a 10% solution with a bronchodilator by pressure machine, clearance of tracheobronchial secretions can be achieved in asthmatic subjects without inducing bronchospasm.
Subject(s)
Acetylcysteine/therapeutic use , Asthma/drug therapy , Asthma/pathology , Bronchoscopy , Humans , Lung/pathology , Mucus/pathology , Respiratory Therapy , Therapeutic IrrigationABSTRACT
This Case Report is that of a young woman followed for 21 years, whose life was saved repeatedly by bronchoscopy and lavage to remove mucous plugs and casts from the tracheobronchial tree. In 1982, after again having a respiratory crisis and not having a bronchoscopy and lavage, she died. The pathology revealed a thickened hyalinized basement membrane and numerous mucous plugs filling the larger bronchi and bronchioles.
Subject(s)
Acetylcysteine/therapeutic use , Asthma/therapy , Bronchoscopy , Adult , Asthma/pathology , Bronchi/pathology , Chronic Disease , Combined Modality Therapy , Female , Humans , Lung/pathology , Status Asthmaticus/pathology , Status Asthmaticus/therapy , Therapeutic IrrigationABSTRACT
Three patients suffering from severe, chronic, bronchial asthma underwent bronchoscopy and lavage, using in the irrigant fluid acetylcysteine, isoetharine and Solu-Medrol. All patients had a large amount of thick mucus in the tracheobronchial tree which was removed during the lavage. Following the lavage, all three patients were easily treated with conventional allergic measures and were able to lead normal lives, which they could not do before. A discussion of the precautions to be taken by the medical-surgical team in charge of a patient undergoing bronchoscopy and lavage is made. These conclusions were based on the results of two previous reports by the authors in addition to the present communication.
