Mucoactive agents for acute respiratory failure in the critically ill: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Rohan Anand, Daniel F Mcauley, Bronagh Blackwood, Chee Yap, Brenda Oneill, Bronwen Connolly, Mark Borthwick, Murali Shyamsundar, John Warburton, David Van Meenen, Frederique Paulus, Marcus J Schultz, Paul Dark, Judy M Bradley

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8 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

PURPOSE: Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is a common cause of admission to intensive care units (ICUs). Mucoactive agents are medications that promote mucus clearance and are frequently administered in patients with ARF, despite a lack of evidence to underpin clinical decision making. The aim of this systematic review was to determine if the use of mucoactive agents in patients with ARF improves clinical outcomes.

METHODS: We searched electronic and grey literature (January 2020). Two reviewers independently screened, selected, extracted data and quality assessed studies. We included trials of adults receiving ventilatory support for ARF and involving at least one mucoactive agent compared with placebo or standard care. Outcomes included duration of mechanical ventilation. Meta-analysis was undertaken using random-effects modelling and certainty of the evidence was assessed using Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation.

RESULTS: Thirteen randomised controlled trials were included (1712 patients), investigating four different mucoactive agents. Mucoactive agents showed no effect on duration of mechanical ventilation (seven trials, mean difference (MD) -1.34, 95% CI -2.97 to 0.29, I2=82%, very low certainty) or mortality, hospital stay and ventilator-free days. There was an effect on reducing ICU length of stay in the mucoactive agent groups (10 trials, MD -3.22, 95% CI -5.49 to -0.96, I2=89%, very low certainty).

CONCLUSION: Our findings do not support the use of mucoactive agents in critically ill patients with ARF. The existing evidence is of low quality. High-quality randomised controlled trials are needed to determine the role of specific mucoactive agents in critically ill patients with ARF.
PROSPERO registration number CRD42018095408.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)623-631
Number of pages9
JournalThorax
Volume75
Issue number8
Early online date8 Jun 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 15 Jul 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any
funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

Publisher Copyright:
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • ARDS
  • assisted ventilation
  • critical care
  • non invasive ventilation

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