Randomized Trialhigh evidence
Carbocisteine or Hypertonic Saline for Acute Respiratory Failure.
The New England journal of medicine·June 10, 2026·PMID 42267821
Why it mattersMucoactive agents are commonly used in the ICU for secretion management despite limited evidence. This large, rigorous trial provides clear evidence that these interventions do not improve outcomes and cause harm, which should prompt emergency physicians and intensivists to reconsider their use in mechanically ventilated patients.
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