Effect of Ringer-Lactate and isotonic saline solutions on mucociliary clearance of tracheal epithelium: an experimental study in rats.

Isotonic saline solution is frequently used in nasal and tracheal lavage. In a previous clinical study, it was found that Ringer-Lactate solution, as a nasal lavage, was better for mucociliary clearance function than isotonic saline solution after nasal septal surgery. In this experimental study, the effects of Ringer-Lactate and isotonic saline solutions on mucociliary clearance of healthy rat tracheal epithelium were investigated by measuring the transport of carbon particles. We found that tracheal segments that were irrigated with Ringer-Lactate had better mucociliary transport than those irrigated with isotonic saline (p = 0.035).