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Systemic administration of N–acetylcysteine has no effect on postoperative lung function following elective upper laparotomy in lung healthy patients
Author(s) -
JEPSEN S.,
KLÆRKE A.,
NIELSEN P. H.,
NIELSEN S. T.,
SIMONSEN O.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
acta anaesthesiologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1399-6576
pISSN - 0001-5172
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-6576.1989.tb02894.x
Subject(s) - medicine , atelectasis , laparotomy , acetylcysteine , pulmonary function testing , anesthesia , placebo , lung , surgery , lung function , biochemistry , chemistry , alternative medicine , pathology , antioxidant
In a randomized, double–blind study, 131 consecutive patients, subjected to elective upper laparotomy, were prophylactically given the recommended dose of N–acetylcysteine (NAC) (Mucomyst, ASTRA) (200 mg × 3) or placebo against postoperative pulmonary complications. The effect was evaluated by lung function tests (VC and FEV 1 ), arterial blood gas analyses and chest x–ray. No benefit could be demonstrated, either to postoperative pulmonary function or in the frequency of atelectasis in the recommended dose. However, no patients with preoperative bronchopulmonary disease demanding treatment with bronchodilatators were included in the study. A positive effect of NAC in this category of patients could not be excluded.