Background
Stringy, tenacious tracheal secretions may prevent extubation in patients weaned from
the respirator. This prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
with parallel assignment was performed to assess the influence of sublingually administered
potassium dichromate C30 on the amount of tenacious, stringy tracheal secretions in
critically ill patients with a history of tobacco use and COPD
Methods
In this study, 50 patients breathing spontaneously with continuous positive airway
pressure were receiving either potassium dichromate C30 globules (group 1) [Deutsche
Homoüopathie-Union, Pharmaceutical Company; Karlsruhe, Germany] or placebo (group
2). Five globules were administered twice daily at intervals of 12 h. The amount of
tracheal secretions on day 2 after the start of the study as well as the time for
successful extubation and length of stay in the ICU were recorded
Results
The amount of tracheal secretions was reduced significantly in group 1 (p < 0.0001).
Extubation could be performed significantly earlier in group 1 (p < 0.0001). Similarly,
length of stay was significantly shorter in group 1 (4.20 ± 1.61 days vs 7.68 ± 3.60
days, p < 0.0001 [mean ± SD])
Conclusion
These data suggest that potentized (diluted and vigorously shaken) potassium dichromate
may help to decrease the amount of stringy tracheal secretions in COPD patients
Key words
Abbreviation:
APACHE (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation), BMI (body mass index), CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), FIO2 (fraction of inspired oxygen)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
July 17,
2004
Received:
March 17,
2004
Identification
Copyright
© 2005 The American College of Chest Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
