Expectoration disorders in patients with chronic obstructive lung diseases

: The paper is concerned with an analysis of the original data and the conception regarding the pathogenesis of expectoration alterations and correction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). Expectoration defects in COPD are suggested to be classified according to duration of respiratory tract clearing from sputum. The disorders of the first and second degree amenable to correction by oral and inhalation expectorants are referred to compensation stage, those of the third degree resistant to the correction to decompensation stage. Efficiency of current expectorants is comparatively assessed as well as mechanisms of their actions. An approach to expectorants administration should be differential basing on the severity of relevant impairment and aimed at adequate maintenance or recovery of the sputum discharge in COPD patients.