Efficacy of ambroxol hydrochloride in the prevention of pulmonary complications following transoral atlantoaxial surgery

CHEN Qing-shan; XU Wen-ping; DAI Jian-qiang; YIN Qing-shui; XIA Hong; DENG Xiao-ling; ZHANG Liang-da; SUN Ling

Abstract：Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of different doses of ambroxol hydrochloride in the pre-vention of pulmonary complications following transoral atlantoaxial surgery.Methods 120 patients who underwent tran-soral atlantoaxial surgery were randomly divided into three groups (40 cases per group) .Patients in Group A were given low dose of ambroxol hydrochloride, 30 mg intravenous infusion, three times a day.Patients in Group B were given a me-dium dosage of ambroxol hydrochloride, 90 mg intravenous infusion, three times a day.Patients in Group C were given a large dose of ambroxol hydrochloride, 300 mg, intravenous infusion, three times a day.Endotracheal tube detaining time, incidence rate of pulmonary complications, duration of antibiotics application and rate of adverse reaction were compared a-mong the groups.Results There was no significant difference in endotracheal tube detaining time and rate of adverse re-action among the groups ( P>0.05) .Incidence rates of pulmonary complications and durations of antibiotics application in Groups B and C were significantly lower than those in Group A ( P<0.05 ) , but not significantly different between Groups B and C (P>0.05).Conclusion Medium and high dose of ambroxol hydrochloride are safer and more effective in the prevention of pulmonary complications following transoral atlantoaxial surgery.High dose of ambroxol hydrochloride does not demonstrate better outcomes and therefore is not recommended for prevention of pulmonary complications following transoral atlantoaxial surgery.