Hello, a warm greeting.

I would like to know if anyone has experience with mucolytic medication to manage excessive bronchial secretions in a newborn. If so, what mucolytic used medically?

Sincerely,

Dr. Fernando Agama C.

Unidad de Neonatología

Hospital "Dr. Enrique Garcés"

Quito-Ecuador

Dear Fernando

we usually use frequent (up to hourly) saline 0.9% nebulizer in the first place, some advocate hypertonic saline but I have no experiance with that in neonates. In severe cases we have used Acetylcystein (ACC Sandoz®, ACC eco®), Ecomucyl®, Fluimucil®, Mucostop® und Solmucol®) nebulized with good effect. A good physiotherapist is worth a lot in these infants. Make sure you have checked all the rare differential diagnosis for severe hypersecretion like CF, ciliar dysfunction, neuromuscular diseases and congenital airway abnormalities.

All the best and merry Christmas

Alexander Rakow

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

We have also come to use the 0.9% saline

Similarly, our best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a better 2013.

Sincerely,

Dr. Fernando Agama C.

Unidad de Neonatología.

Hospital "Dr. Enrique Garcés"

Quito-Ecuador

Hello ! We also use saline O.9%, plus acetylcisteine. Our nurses use an electric toothbrush, cover with gauze as vibration therapy to move the secretions. You have to be careful when giving respiratory therapy to a newborn, specially if is a LBW infant, because if you use percusion, you could increase the IVH, risk.

Best Wishes . Leonora.

We use hypertonic Salin 3% with good results