The effect of pH of douching solutions on mucociliary clearance

The effect of the pH of hypertonic saline nasal douching solutions on mucoc iliary clearance was studied in order to investigate the common notion that such solutions should be buffered alkaline. Thirty normal subjects were in cluded in a randomised controlled crossover trial. Mucociliary clearance wa s measured by the saccharin clearance time;There was no difference in mucoc iliary clearance after douching with a non-buffered solution and a solution buffered to pH 8. However both solutions significantly improved mucociliar y clearance compared to the baseline (P < 0.001) probably on account of the ir hypertonicity.