title: Inhalation of corticosteroid and β-agonist for persistent cough following pulmonary resection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients undergoing pulmonary resection often suffer from a dry, hacking cough, which is usually refractory to opioid cough suppressors such as codeine. The cough is often painful and impairs the quality of life of the patients. The efficacy of an inhaled corticosteroid plus β2-agonist against the persistent cough after pulmonary resection was evaluated in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 21 patients in this prospective study of the efficacy of an inhaled corticosteroid plus β2-agonist against persistent cough following pulmonary resection. After baseline evaluation of the severity of the postoperative persistent cough using a visual analog scale (VAS), treatment with an inhaled corticosteroid plus β2-agonist was initiated and continued for 2 weeks. At the end of the 2 weeks, the cough severity was evaluated again using a VAS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median grade of cough on the VAS before the start of the inhaled treatment was 4 (range 3-8). At the end of 2 weeks of treatment with an inhaled corticosteroid plus β2 agonist, the median grade of cough on the VAS decreased from 4 to 1 (range 0-4). As an adverse effect of the inhalation, hoarseness was observed in one patient, which disappeared promptly after discontinuing the inhalations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with an inhaled corticosteroid plus β2 agonist appeared to be highly effective, without severe adverse effects, against the persistent cough suffered by patients after pulmonary resection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Hospital Organization Shikoku Cancer Center, 160 Kou Minamiumemotomachi, Matsuyama, Ehime, 791-0280, Japan. ssawada@shikoku-cc.go.jp
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suehisa
authors.forename: Motohiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamashita
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000368:Aged; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000996:Antitussive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D019819:Budesonide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000069502:Budesonide, Formoterol Fumarate Drug Combination; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003371:Cough / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D000068297:Fluticasone-Salmeterol Drug Combination; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D000730:Androstadienes; D000996:Antitussive Agents; D000069502:Budesonide, Formoterol Fumarate Drug Combination; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines; D000068297:Fluticasone-Salmeterol Drug Combination; D019819:Budesonide; D000420:Albuterol; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate