Effect of short-term inhalation of warm saline atomised gas on patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.

OBJECTIVE

Secretion clearance is advocated in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, but is often neglected in clinical treatment. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of inhaled 0.9% normal saline by ultrasonic nebuliser with warming (UNW) in stable non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis patients with purulent sputum.

METHODS

27 stable patients were enrolled in a randomised crossover trial comprising 3 months of daily UNW aerosol therapy compared with 3 months of daily oral expectorant treatment. The outcomes were quality of life (assessed the Leicester cough questionnaire (LCQ)), sputum characteristics, pulmonary function, 6-min walk distance (6MWD) and acute exacerbation frequency.

RESULTS

Compared with baseline, the sputum viscosity, sputum colour, LCQ score and 6MWD were significantly improved with UNW (p<0.05), and the improvements in sputum colour, LCQ score, 6MWD and inspirational capacity with UNW were significantly better than those achieved treatment with oral expectorant (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between treatments in pulmonary function, sputum cytology classification and inflammatory factors of sputum.

CONCLUSION

UNW aerosol therapy in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis has small yet significant benefits. However, UNW does not improve the degree of inflammation.