Sputum dissolving suctioning solution for endotracheal and tracheostomy tubes

1. A composition for dissolving or reducing the viscosity of sputum on a surface of a device, the composition comprising:

an effective amount of glycerol and an effective amount of dextran sulfate in a saline solution to dissolve or reduce the viscosity of sputum and improve the function of the device, wherein the effective amount of glycerol is 50%, the effective amount of dextran sulfate is 20%, and the amount of salt in the saline solution is at least 0.85%; and

a chlorhexidine.

2. The composition according to claim 1 , further comprising one or more antimicrobial agents.

3. The composition according to claim 2 , wherein the antimicrobial agent is selected from a group consisting of a taurinamide derivative, a phenol, quaternary ammonium surfactant, chlorine-containing, quinoline, quinaldinium, lactone, dye, thiosemicarbazone, quinone, sulfa, carbamates, urea, salicylamide, carbanilide, amide, guanide, amidine, chelate, imidazoline biocides, acetic acid, benzoic acid, sorbic acid, propionic acid, boric acid, dehydroacetic acid, sulfurous acid, vanillic acid, esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, ethanol, isopropanol, propylene glycol, benzyl alcohol, chlorobutanol, phenylethyl alcohol, 2-bromo-2-nitropropan-1,3-diol, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, calcium hypochlorite, potassium hypochlorite, sodium hypochlorite, iodine (in various solvents), povidone-iodine, hexamethylenetetramine, noxythiolin, 1-(3-choroallyl)-3,5,7-triazo 1-azoniaadamantane chloride, taurolidine, taurultam, EDTA, N(5-nitro-2-furfurylidene)-1-amino-hydantoin, 5-nitro-2-furaldehyde semicarbazone, 3,4,4′-trichlorocarbanilide, 3,4′,5-tribromosalicylanilide, salicylanilide, 3-trifluoromethyl-4,4′-dichlorocarbanilide, 8-hydroxyquinoline, 1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-(1-piperazinyl)-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-1-ethyl-6-fluoro-4-oxo-7-(1-piperazinyl)-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, phenol, sodium oxychlorosene, parachlorometaxylenol, 2,4,4′-trichloro-2′-hydroxydiphenol, thymol, benzalkonium chloride, cetylpyridinium chloride, silver, nanosilver, silver sulfadiazine, silver nitrate, 5 fluorouracil, phenolic antiseptics, gentian violet, methylene blue, brilliant green, and bismuth compounds.

4. The composition according to claim 2 , wherein the one or more antimicrobial agents includes a mixture of Iodine and potassium iodide.

5. The composition according to claim 4 , wherein the mixture of Iodine and potassium iodide is at a ratio of 1:2.

6. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the device is an endotracheal tube or a tracheostomy tube.

7. A method for removing mucus from a surface of a device inside a trachea, comprising:

applying a composition of claim 1 to the surface of the device to dissolve the mucus;

allowing the mucus to dissolve; and

removing the mucus from the trachea.

8. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising one or more antimicrobial agents.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the antimicrobial agent is selected from a group consisting of a taurinamide derivative, a phenol, quaternary ammonium surfactant, chlorine-containing, quinoline, quinaldinium, lactone, dye, thiosemicarbazone, quinone, sulfa, carbamates, urea, salicylamide, carbanilide, amide, guanide, amidine, chelate, imidazoline biocides, acetic acid, benzoic acid, sorbic acid, propionic acid, boric acid, dehydroacetic acid, sulfurous acid, vanillic acid, esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, ethanol, isopropanol, propylene glycol, benzyl alcohol, chlorobutanol, phenylethyl alcohol, 2-bromo-2-nitropropan-1,3-diol, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, calcium hypochlorite, potassium hypochlorite, sodium hypochlorite, iodine (in various solvents), povidone-iodine, hexamethylenetetramine, noxythiolin, 1-(3-choroallyl)-3,5,7-triazo 1-azoniaadamantane chloride, taurolidine, taurultam, EDTA, N(5-nitro-2-furfurylidene)-1-amino-hydantoin, 5-nitro-2-furaldehyde semicarbazone, 3,4,4′-trichlorocarbanilide, 3,4′,5-tribromosalicylanilide, salicylanilide, 3-trifluoromethyl-4,4′-dichlorocarbanilide, 8-hydroxyquinoline, 1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-(1-piperazinyl)-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-1-ethyl-6-fluoro-4-oxo-7-(1-piperazinyl)-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, phenol, sodium oxychlorosene, parachlorometaxylenol, 2,4,4′-trichloro-2′-hydroxydiphenol, thymol, benzalkonium chloride, cetylpyridinium chloride, silver, nanosilver, silver sulfadiazine, silver nitrate, 5 fluorouracil, phenolic antiseptics, gentian violet, methylene blue, brilliant green, and bismuth compounds.

10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the one or more antimicrobial agents includes a mixture of Iodine and potassium iodide.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the mixture of Iodine and potassium iodide is at a ratio of 1:2.

12. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the device is an endotracheal tube or a tracheostomy tube.

13. A method for removing built-up sputum or mucus from a surface of a tracheal cuff tube or in a lumen of a tube inside a trachea of a patient, comprising:

applying a composition of claim 1 to the surface of the tracheal cuff tube or in the lumen of the tube to dissolve the built-up sputum or mucus;

allowing the built-up sputum or mucus to dissolve; and

suctioning the built-up sputum or mucus from the surface.