Pancreatic Dornase Aerosol in Pulmonary, Endotracheal and Endobronchial Disease

¹ The Department of Surgery, New York Hospital and the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Memorial Center for Cancer and Allied Diseases.

Pancreatic dornase has been used in a total of 104 patients, in two groups: Group 1:65 who received inhalations before bronchoscopy, and Group II: 39 who received inhalations for treatment of pulmonary disease.

None of the 65 who had inhalations before bronchoscopy had any reaction to the drug. Sixteen of the 28 proved carcinomas (57 per cent) gave positive cytologies and 20, (71 per cent) gave positive or doubtful cytologies. There were no false positives.

Patients with acute pulmonary disease such as atelectasis secondary to mucus plugs or thick tenaceous sputum respond most rapidly and satisfactorily to pancreatic dornase. Those with more chronic disease respond slower but remarkably well, while those with advanced malignant disease or chronic pulmonary disease with dry cough, such as post-radiation bronchitis, respond less satisfactorily or poorly to the drug.

Even with repeated inhalations and repeated courses of inhalations, only a few had minor complications.

This enzyme would seem to be particularly useful in post-operative thoracic surgical and post-traumatic patients with thoracic injuries.