Early administration of mucoactive agents and ventilator-free days: a propensity score-matched study

• Published in: Annals of translational medicine Vol. 11; no. 5; p. 195
• Main Authors: Fujinaga, Jun, Kuriyama, Akira, Onodera, Mutsuo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China AME Publishing Company 15-03-2023
• Subjects: Original; Airway management; mechanical ventilation; critically ill; ventilator-free days (VFDs); propensity score
• ISSN: 2305-5839; 2305-5839
• DOI: 10.21037/atm-22-4340

Mucoactive agents are often prescribed for the management of airway secretions. However, it is unclear whether they improve respiratory outcomes in mechanically ventilated patients.
We examined the association between the early administration of mucoactive agents in ventilated patients and increased ventilator-free days (VFDs). This retrospective observational study was conducted in two intensive care units (ICUs) of a tertiary care hospital in Japan. We applied 1:1 propensity score matching between the early mucoactive agent group and the on-demand mucoactive agent group. We compared VFDs during the first 28 days of ICU stay as the primary outcome between the groups.
In total, 662 participants were eligible for this study, and 94 participants (47 in each group) were included in the analysis. There was no difference in the median VFDs between the groups [21 days; interquartile (IQR) 1-24 for the early group
. 20 days; IQR 13-24 for the on-demand group; P=0.53]. The median ICU-free days were 19 (range, 12-22) days and 19 (range, 13-22) days for the early and on-demand mucoactive agent groups, respectively (P=0.72).
Early administration of mucoactive agents was not associated with increased VFDs.