[The effect of systemic N-acetylcysteine on postoperative expectoration. A prospective, randomized double-blind...

A material of 110 consecutive patients submitted to elective upper abdominal laparotomy participated in a randomized double-blind investigation of the effect of N-acetylcysteine (Mucomyst) administered systemically in the recommended dosage on postoperative expectoration. As an effect variable the quantity of expectorate and the viscosity as assessed subjectively by the physiotherapists in the department on a visual analog scale was employed. N-acetyl-cysteine was not found to have any effect on the postoperative expectoration as assessed by the quantity and the viscosity.