Recommendations

Document Overview

Design and created by Guideline Central in participation with the American Association for Respiratory Care.

Effectiveness of Pharmacologic Airway Clearance Therapies in Hospitalized Patients

American Association for Respiratory Care

Publication Date: Dec 1, 2015

Page Last Updated: May 5, 2026

Document Overview

Document Title: Effectiveness of Pharmacologic Airway Clearance Therapies in Hospitalized Patients

Authoring Society: American Association for Respiratory Care

Document Publication Date: Dec 1, 2015

Page Last Reviewed/Updated: May 5, 2026

Document Type: Guideline

Country of Publication: United States

Full Text Freely Available: Yes

Full Text Guideline: www.aarc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/pharm_cpg.pdf

Source Citation: Respir Care 2015;60(7):1071–1077

Supplemental Implementation Resources

Decision Aid

Document Scope, Criteria, and Use Cases

Document Objectives: The purpose of this guideline is to provide guidance to clinicians in the identification, selection, and delivery of medication for airway clearance. This guideline does not include the use of medication for patients with cystic fibrosis, as this has been addressed.

Scope: Assessment and Screening, Management, Treatment

Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)

D006493 - Heparin

D058109 - Airway Management

D020545 - Respiratory Mucosa

D006493 - Heparin

D058109 - Airway Management

D020545 - Respiratory Mucosa

Keywords: airway management, airway restriction, difficult airway, mucolytics

Target Patient Population: Patients require airway clearance therapy

Inclusion Criteria: Male, Female, Adolescent, Adult, Child, Older Adult

Health Care Settings: Emergency Care, Hospital

Intended Users: Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician, Physician Assistant

Recommendation Development Processes & Methodology

Number of Source Documents: 8

Literature Search End Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Includes peer/external review process?: Yes

Includes public comment process?: No

Methodologist involvement?: Yes

Patient involvement?: No

Includes multi-disciplinary group?: Yes

Includes systematic review?: Yes

Grades quality of strength of evidence?: Yes

Grades quality of strength of recommendation?: No

Discloses funding source?: Yes

Discloses conflicts of interest?: Yes

Includes benefits/harms analysis with recommendations?: Yes

Identifies study selection process?: Yes

Identifies study selection criteria?: Yes

Identifies methods used to evaluate and analyze the evidence?: Yes

Identifies key questions addressed by the systematic review?: Yes

Identifies search strategy?: Yes