[Safety of sputum induction in subjects with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the safety of sputum induction in subjects with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).


METHODS
Twenty-two patients with AECOPD were enrolled in the study. All subjects inhaled a mist of 3% hypertonic saline solution and the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)) and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) were measured during the procedure.


RESULTS
A significant fall in SpO(2) and FEV(1) was found during sputum induction by inhalation of 3% hypertonic saline solution. Mean decline in SpO(2) during sputum induction was (2.1 +/- 0.4)% (P < 0.01) and recovered within 10 min after cessation of sputum induction. Mean decline in FEV(1) during sputum induction was (12.3 +/- 3.1)% (P = 0.027), an absolute fall of (0.11 +/- 0.03) L, and the FEV(1) returned to the baseline in all subjects within 10 min after cessation of sputum induction. The sputum induction was successful in 19 of the 22 (86%) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of a standardized sputum induction protocol is relatively safe in sampling the lower airways in patients with AECOPD.
Zeng
Mian
M
Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
Wu
Jian-feng
JF
Xie
Can-mao
CM
Yan
Ying-shuo
YS
Chen
Dong-mei
DM
Xuan
Jian-mei
JM
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D013183:Sputum