Efficacy of Inhaled RhDNase in Mechanically Ventilated Pediatric Patients with an Atelectasis.

Atelectasis in children during mechanical ventilation often results from and/or is associated with airway inflammation and airways infection, with an increased influx of inflammAatory cells in the airways. Inflammatory cells and damaged epithelial cells degrade, and release DNA in airway mucus resulting in an increased mucus viscosity. Viscous mucus impairs mucociliary clearance, resulting in airways obstruction and impaired resolution of atelectasis.



We therefore designed a study to evaluate the efficacy of the mucolytic medicine rhDNase in addition to conventional treatment in children with an atelectasis during mechanical ventilation.

RhDNase can liquefy mucus in children with an atelectasis during mechanical ventilation, resulting in improved mucociliary clearance, less mucus retention and less airways obstruction, thereby enhancing the rate of resolution of an atelectasis. Moreover we expect the ventilator settings, pulmonary ventilation and ventilation-perfusion mismatch to improve faster, possibly resulting in a shorter time spent on a ventilator and on the ICU.

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Intervention group: Twice daily: inhaled rhDNase, 2.5 ml and twice daily 4 ml isotonic saline (NaCl 0.9%), for two days.
Control group: Twice daily: inhaled isotinic saline 2.5 ml and twice daily 4 ml isotonic saline, for two days.