Sputum Viscosity and Postoperative Pulmonary Atelectasis

Effect of atropine on sputum production.

“…Our study confirms Blanshard's (1960) findings since viscosity and also dry weight yield, neuraminic acid, and fucose varied little after atropine.…”

“…The effect of atropine on bronchial secretions of bronchiectatic patients was studied during bronchoscopy (Basch et al, 1941) and less, but more viscous, secretion adherent to the bronchial mucosa was reported. Blanshard (1960) reported no change in sputum viscosity in postoperative patients with chronic bronchitis before or after atropine.…”

Le rythme journalier de la résistance bronchique chez l’asthmatique

“…Ainsi le ry th m e jo u rn alier de la fonction pulm onaire serait in tim em en t lié à l'activité du systèm e végétatif, hypothèse form ulée déjà p ar W y s s et W il b r a n d t [23]. L 'accroissem ent de la viscosité des sécrétions bronchiques et leur accum ulation dans les voies respiratoires d u ra n t la n u it [2,4] ainsi que les variations jo u r nalières de la production du cortisol [ 18,19] jo u en t certainem ent aussi un rôle dans le déterm inism e de ce phénom ène biologique.…”

The Evaluation of Mucolytic Drugs in Chronic Bronchitis

“…Blanshard 5 showed in bronchitics that when sputum viscosity increased after operation high viscosities were associated with postoperative atelectasis. There is no information in his paper as to the degree of hydration of these patients however.…”