Patients with bronchiectasis judge nebulised hypertonic saline as very useful

In addition to common inhaled bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs, nebulised antibiotics - e.g. colistine - and chest physiotherapy are an integral part of the complex therapeutic regimen for this severe lung disease. Currently, treatment with nebulised hypertonic saline (HS) is becoming more accepted as a mucolytic treatment.

Altogether more than 35% of the patients use hypertonic saline as part of their treatment plan. It was rated as very beneficial: nebulised hypertonic saline therapy received  the highest score for perceived usefulness. These results were reason enough for the physicians’ clear conclusion to support the wide application of HS in this disease.

Bronchiectasis Bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis is an abnormal widening of one or more airways. Extra mucus is made in the abnormal airways which is prone to infection. patients suffer from pathological enlargement of the conducting airways (bronchi). Leading symptoms of this severe disease are coughing and large sputum sputum
Sputum is mucus that is coughed up from the lower airways. volumes. Possible complications are pneumonia pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung. or hemoptysis.

About 36% of the bronchiectasis bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis is an abnormal widening of one or more airways. Extra mucus is made in the abnormal airways which is prone to infection. patients had nebulised hypertonic saline on their treatment schedule

Nebulised hypertonic saline (HS) was judged as especially useful by bronchiectasis bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis is an abnormal widening of one or more airways. Extra mucus is made in the abnormal airways which is prone to infection. patients.

Source: Woolnough et al. (2010) Poster P585 on the annual congress of the European Respiratory Society in Barcelona