title: [Effect of perioperative treatment with ambroxol on lung cancer patients after video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the influence of perioperative intravenous administration of ambroxol on pulmonary function, postoperative complications, postoperative hospital stay, and cost after video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy for lung cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients who underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy for lung cancer in Xiangya Hospital, Central South University between May 2011 and May 2012 were randomly assigned into 2 groups: An ambroxol group (n=30) and a control group (n=30). In the ambroxol group, patients were given ambroxol (1 000 mg/d) on the day of operation and on the first 3 postoperative days. In control group, placebo was given. The pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gases, incidence of perioperative morbidity, postoperative mechanical ventilation time, duration of ICU stay, length and costs of postoperative hospital stay were compared between the 2 groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 2 groups were well matched for demographics and operative variables. The ambroxol group showed better the percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1%), the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC%), the percent predicted diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO%) and arterial oxygen pressure than the control group. The postoperative pulmonary complications was significantly reduced, the duration of mechanical ventilation and the length of ICU stay were shortened, and the length and costs of postoperative hospital stay were significantly decreased in the ambroxol group compared with the control group (all P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perioperative intravenous administration of ambroxol can improve the postoperative lung function, reduce the incidence of pulmonary complications, shorten the length of postoperative hospital stay, and lower the total cost of hospitalization after video-assisted thoracic surgery lobectomy for lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Yuanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Shuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Zhiwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Wolong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Lubiao
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Chunfang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000551:Ambroxol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D010100:Oxygen; D059035:Perioperative Period; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D013990:Tidal Volume; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D000551:Ambroxol; D010100:Oxygen