Airway clearance techniques used by people with cystic fibrosis in the UK

Brochoscopic Airway Clearance Therapy vs. Conventional Sputum Aspiration: The Future of Flexible Brochoscopes in Intensive Care Units?

(1) Background: The aim of our study is to investigate the effectiveness of bronchoscopic airway clearance therapy (B-ACT) on severe pneumonia (SP) patients with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) in the intensive care unit (ICU). (2) Methods: Our study retrospectively enrolled 49 patients with sputum aspiration and 99 patients with B-ACT, and the latter were divided into the ≤once every 3 days group (n = 50) and >once every 3 days group (n = 49). (3) Results: We found most laboratory blood results were significantly improved in the B-ACT group as compared with those in sputum aspiration group (p < 0.05). Patients in the B-ACT group and those in ≤once every 3 days group also had significantly better survival to hospital discharge than those in their counterpart groups (Logrank p < 0.001). In patients with cardiopulmonary diseases or positive cultures for bacteria, the B-ACT group and those in the ≤once every 3 days group had significantly better survival outcomes to discharge than those in their counterpart groups (Logrank p < 0.001). B-ACT and the average frequency of ≤once every 3 days had significantly better impact on survival outcomes than their counterpart groups (HR: 0.444, 95% CI: 0.238-0.829, p = 0.011; HR: 0.285, 95% CI: 0163-0.498, p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: In the future, flexible bronchoscopes may paly an important role in ACT for SP patients with IMV.

Patient and Caregiver Perceptions of Airway Clearance Methods Used for Cystic Fibrosis

Introduction

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation guidelines recommend people with CF perform daily airway clearance. This can be difficult for patients, as some find it time consuming or uncomfortable. Data comparing airway clearance methods are limited. We surveyed patients and their families to understand which methods are preferred and identify obstacles to performing airway clearance.

Methods

We designed a REDCap survey and enrolled participants in 2021. Respondents reported information on airway clearance usage, time commitment, and medication use. They rated airway clearance methods for effectiveness, comfort, time commitment, importance, and compatibility with other treatments. The analysis included descriptive statistics and clustering.

Results

60 respondents started and 52 completed the survey. The median patient age was 20 years. Respondents experienced a median of four airway clearance methods in their lifetime, including chest wall oscillation (vest, 92%), manual chest physical therapy (CPT, 88%), forced expiration technique (huff or cough, 77%), and exercise (75%). Past 30-day use was highest for exercise (62%) and vest (57%). The time commitment was generally less than 2 hours daily. Of those eligible for CFTR modulators, 53% reported decreased time commitment to airway clearance after starting treatment. On a scale of 0-100, respondents rated CFTR modulators as their most important treatment (median 99.5), followed by exercise (88). Discussion. Patients and caregivers are familiar with several methods of airway clearance for CF. They report distinct strengths and limitations of each method. Exercise and vest are the most common methods of airway clearance. The use of CFTR modulators may reduce patient-reported time commitment to airway clearance.

Personalising airway clearance in chronic suppurative lung diseases: a scoping review

Background

Personalised airway clearance techniques are commonly recommended to augment mucus clearance in chronic suppurative lung diseases. It is unclear what current literature tells us about how airway clearance regimens should be personalised. This scoping review explores current research on airway clearance technique in chronic suppurative lung diseases, to establish the extent and type of guidance in this area, identify knowledge gaps and determine the factors which physiotherapists should consider when personalising airway clearance regimens.

Methods

Systematic searching of online databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PEDro, Cochrane, Web of Science) was used to identify full-text publications in the last 25 years that described methods of personalising airway clearance techniques in chronic suppurative lung diseases. Items from the TIDieR framework provided a priori categories which were modified based on the initial data to develop a "Best-fit" framework for data charting. The findings were subsequently transformed into a personalisation model.

Results

A broad range of publications were identified, most commonly general review papers (44%). The items identified were grouped into seven personalisation factors: physical, psychosocial, airway clearance technique (ACT) type, procedures, dosage, response and provider. As only two divergent models of ACT personalisation were found, the personalisation factors identified were then used to develop a model for physiotherapists.

Conclusions

The personalisation of airway clearance regimens is widely discussed in the current literature, which provides a range of factors that should be considered. This review summarises the current literature, organising findings into a proposed airway clearance personalisation model, to provide clarity in this field.

[Respiratory physiotherapy in pediatric practice]

Congestion of the upper (URT) and lower respiratory tracts (LRT) is a common symptom in several acute and chronic respiratory diseases that occur in childhood. To eliminate these secretions, airway clearance techniques (ACT) directed to the URT and LRT are frequently prescribed. The rationale for the application of these techniques is the same as in adults, but they need to be adapted to be transposed to children. The physiotherapist will be able to choose among a wide range of techniques, of which the most adequate will depend not only on the age of the child and the indication, but also on the basis of his preferences or habits, as well as those of the child. Upper airway clearance, including nasal irrigation, is now recommended for acute and chronic rhinosinusitis in children. It is also one of the symptomatic treatments recommended for infants with acute bronchiolitis. For LRT clearance, several indications, such as cystic fibrosis, primary ciliary dyskinesia and neuromuscular disease, are now widely advocated. Conversely, other indications, such as for infants with acute viral bronchiolitis, are highly controversial. Thoughtful application of these techniques is lacking in robust and precise tools to objectively assess the presence of bronchial congestion, and to treat it accordingly. Similarly, no precise and reliable evaluation of the effectiveness of these ACTs is available to date. This review is designed to explore the ACTs used by physiotherapists, to provide an overview of their current indications, and to consider complementary approaches.

Bronchoscopic airway clearance therapy for acute exacerbations of bronchiectasis

Background

Persistent cough and large amounts of purulent sputum affects many bronchiectasis patients. No studies have evaluated the efficacy and safety of bronchoscopic airway clearance therapy and bronchoalveolar lavage (B-ACT) for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis patients with acute exacerbation.

Methods

A randomised controlled trial was conducted to explore the efficacy and safety of B-ACT among 189 bronchiectasis inpatients from February 1, 2018 to February 28, 2019. The primary outcome was the time to first acute exacerbation. Secondary outcomes included changes of health-related scores, length of hospital stay, hospitalization expenses and incidences of adverse events.

Findings

B-ACT therapy significantly prolonged the median days to first acute exacerbation when compared with control group (198 vs 168 days, HR 0·555 (0·322-0·958), p=0·012; effect size(r)= 0·94). Further analysis showed that B-ACT therapy was more beneficial for these patients with severe disease and greater symptoms. COPD Assessment Test (CAT) scores improved significantly on the third day (5·45 vs 4·85, 0·60 (0·09-1·11), p=0·023), and Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) scores improved obviously on the third and seventh days (1·53 vs 1·23, 0·30 (0·05-0·55), p=0·044; 1·66 vs 1·32, 0·34 (0·08-0·60), p=0·022; respectively) after B-ACT therapy. Adverse events associated with B-ACT were mostly transient and mild. Differences of the lengths of hospital stay and hospitalization expenses in both group was not significant.

Interpretation

B-ACT therapy significantly prolonged the time to first acute exacerbation after discharge, highlighting the importance of B-ACT therapy focused on symptom improvements in preventing exacerbation.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Trial registry

ClinicalTrials.gov; No.:NCT03643302; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Exercise as a substitute for traditional airway clearance in cystic fibrosis: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Exercise and traditional airway clearance techniques (ACTs) are both routinely recommended for people with cystic fibrosis (CF), with some people using exercise as a substitute for traditional ACTs. The effectiveness of this is unclear. We systematically reviewed the evidence for using exercise as a substitute for traditional ACTs in people with CF.

METHODS

A systematic database and literature search were undertaken of studies comparing exercise to rest or traditional ACTs. Primary outcomes were respiratory function, respiratory exacerbations and health-related quality of life. Secondary outcomes included mucociliary clearance (MCC), sputum weight and ease of expectoration. Data are mean difference (95% CI).

RESULTS

A total of 12 studies (15 reports) were included, all of short duration (single session to 2 weeks). In crossover trials, exercise did not improve forced expiratory volume in one second in comparison to rest, but peak expiratory flow was increased during treadmill exercise (mean difference (MD) range 1.00-1.16 L/s) and cycle ergometry (1.19 (0.96 to 1.42) L/s). Treadmill exercise improved MCC (2.6 (1.6 to 3.6)%) and ease of expectoration (MD range 1.3-1.8 cm) compared with rest. No consistent differences in respiratory function were evident when exercise was compared with traditional ACTs (four crossover studies). There was no significant difference in MCC or sputum weight in studies where forced expirations were included in the exercise intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

Exercise improves ease of expectoration and sputum clearance compared with rest. Exercise, incorporating forced expirations, may have similar effects to traditional ACTs over the short term. There are no data comparing exercise to traditional ACTs over the longer term.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42018102780.

Development of a device to measure adherence and pressure characteristics of positive expiratory pressure therapies used by adults with cystic fibrosis

Introduction: Positive expiratory pressure (PEP) and oscillating positive expiratory pressure (OscPEP) therapies are often used by people with cystic fibrosis (CF) to facilitate airway clearance. However, suboptimal adherence and poor technique may reduce their effectiveness.Objective: To develop a device (PEPtrac) to accurately measure and provide preliminary clinical data of adherence and technique characteristics when airway clearance is performed using PEP/OscPEP devices.Methods: This study comprised two distinct phases: 1) a benchtop validation study; and 2) clinical study. Benchtop study: Accuracy of PEPtrac was measured by comparing it to video analysis for five different PEP/OscPEP devices. Clinical study: Clinical data were then collected for 18 adults with CF using one of three PEP/OscPEP devices (PariPEP S®, Acapella DH® or Aerobika®) unsupervised.Results: There was 100% agreement between PEPtrac and video analysis data. Clinical data revealed significant variability in expiratory duration and pressure properties between the three PEP/OscPEP devices and between participants. For example, expiratory duration with PariPEP S® (mean [SD] = 4.8 [1.2] sec) was longer (p < .001) than Acapella DH® (3.7 [0.8] sec) and Aerobika® (2.9 [1.1] sec) and Aerobika® had a higher oscillation amplitude than Acapella DH® (6.4 [1.7] vs 5.3 [1.5] cmH₂O, p < .001).Discussion: Accurate measurement of PEP/OscPEP adherence and technique using a device such as PEPtrac was possible. Further research is required to investigate the clinical importance of the variability in technique seen in our clinical data.

Respiratory physical therapy techniques recommended for patients with cystic fibrosis treated in specialized centers

BACKGROUND

Respiratory therapy is a part of the treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, there is no information about the main factors influencing the recommendation of the use of different techniques or devices by physical therapists from different specialized centers.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the respiratory therapy techniques recommended for the treatment of patients with CF seen in specialized treatment centers in Brazil.

METHODS

This is a descriptive study including a sample of Brazilian CF specialized treatment centers. Data on demographics, spirometric variables, and recommended respiratory therapy treatment techniques were collected.

RESULTS

Twelve specialized treatment centers with a total of 974 patients were included (13.5±11.3 years old and FEV₁ (%) 75.7±27.9). The most recommended techniques were huffing (61.1% of patients), high frequency oral oscillation (HFOO) (52.0%), and positive expiratory pressure (PEP) (45.3%). Most often, recommendation was to perform treatment once (54.8% of patients) or twice (34%) a day. There was great variability in the recommendation among the different states. When data were separated by age, there was a predominance of performing conventional and manual techniques in infants and preschool children. There were no significant variations according to pulmonary function. Based on the literature, techniques based on volume, huffing, and PEP were most prevalently performed in international centers.

CONCLUSION

The most recommended treatment techniques for patients with CF in Brazil are huffing, HFOO, and PEP, followed by volume-based techniques. There were geographical variations in the preferred treatment techniques, as well as based on patient age, but not based on the level of pulmonary function.

Understanding patient activation and adherence to nebuliser treatment in adults with cystic fibrosis: responses to the UK version of PAM-13 and a think aloud study

BACKGROUND

Patient activation refers to patients' knowledge, skills, and confidence in self-managing health conditions. In large cross-sectional studies, individuals with higher patient activation are observed to have better health outcomes with the assumption that they are more engaged in health self-management. However, the association between patient activation and objectively measured self-care indicators in individuals can be inconsistent. This research investigated the role of patient activation as measured by the UK Patient Activation Measure (PAM-13) in adults with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). The aims were twofold: to explore how adults with CF interpret and respond to the PAM-13; and to investigate the association between PAM-13 and objectively measured nebuliser adherence in UK adults with CF.

METHODS

This article describes two studies which examined the PAM-13 from different perspectives. Study 1 comprised 'think aloud' interviews with 15 adults with CF. The data were analysed using an a priori coding framework. Study 2 examined the association between PAM-13 and objectively measured nebuliser adherence in 57 adults with CF.

RESULTS

Study 1 showed that adults with CF encountered several difficulties while completing the PAM-13. The difficulties were related to understanding how to interpret aspects of CF in order to respond (i.e., control over the condition, ability to exercise) and item wording. Some adults with CF responded to the PAM-13 in an optimistic way in relation to what they thought they should do rather than what they actually do. These findings were echoed by the results of Study 2, which showed that PAM-13 scores were not significantly correlated with objective medication adherence in a different sample. This article synthesises the results of both studies, providing insights into influences and associations of patient activation as measured by the UK PAM-13 in adults with CF.

CONCLUSIONS

There were some significant difficulties created by the wording of the UK PAM-13 for adults with CF. This may partly explain the finding that PAM-13 scores were not related to objectively measured nebuliser adherence in this study. The UK PAM-13 would benefit from further research to verify its validity and reliability in different patient populations against objective measures of behaviour rather than simply self-report.

Exercise as a therapeutic intervention for people with cystic fibrosis

INTRODUCTION

The complex multisystem nature of cystic fibrosis (CF) commonly results in reduced exercise tolerance, which is independently associated with poor clinical outcomes. Exercise is routinely recommended as part of the therapeutic regimen in CF to improve both respiratory and non-respiratory impairments. Areas covered: This article summarises the most recent evidence regarding the use of exercise as a therapeutic intervention in CF and discusses some of the practical considerations for exercise prescription in this setting. Clinical trials in progress and future research priorities are outlined. Expert opinion: On the balance of available evidence, exercise is likely to assist in improving physical fitness and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and may be associated with a slower rate of decline in respiratory function in CF. Limitations to current studies include small sample sizes, study durations insufficient to achieve a training effect and difficulty distinguishing the effects of exercise training from that of other interventions implemented as part of a package of care. Larger, multi-centred trials are required to clarify the role of exercise in CF in improving physical fitness, respiratory function, HRQOL, as a substitute for traditional airway clearance techniques and in the management of common CF-related comorbidities.

Exercise is commonly used as a substitute for traditional airway clearance techniques by adults with cystic fibrosis in Australia: a survey

QUESTIONS

What airway clearance techniques and exercise regimens are used by adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) in Australia when well or unwell? What proportion of these adults believe that exercise can be used as a substitute for traditional airway clearance techniques, and how have they come to this belief? What type of exercise is used as a substitute for traditional airway clearance techniques?

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey at 13 CF centres in Australia, using a purpose-designed questionnaire.

PARTICIPANTS

Six hundred and ninety-two adults with CF completed the questionnaire.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The questionnaire included questions about: the participants' current use of traditional airway clearance techniques and exercise, when well and unwell; and beliefs regarding the use of exercise as a substitute for traditional airway clearance techniques.

RESULTS

Coughing, huffing and positive expiratory pressure were the most commonly used airway clearance techniques. Walking, jogging and lifting weights were the most commonly used forms of exercise. Overall, 43% of participants believed that exercise could be used as a substitute for traditional airway clearance techniques, with 44% having substituted exercise for traditional airway clearance techniques in the previous 3 months. Personal experience was the most commonly reported factor influencing participants' beliefs about the use of exercise as a substitute for traditional airway clearance techniques.

CONCLUSION

Exercise is commonly used as a substitute for traditional airway clearance techniques. Physiotherapists should advise patients that whilst there is some research suggesting a possible mechanism for exercise as a form of airway clearance, there are currently no medium-term to long-term data supporting exercise as a stand-alone form of airway clearance. These results suggest that future research to investigate the clinical effectiveness of exercise as a substitute for traditional airway clearance techniques should be a priority.

REGISTRATION

ACTRN12616000994482.

Standard (head-down tilt) versus modified (without head-down tilt) postural drainage in infants and young children with cystic fibrosis

BACKGROUND

Postural drainage is used primarily in infants with cystic fibrosis from diagnosis up to the moment when they are mature enough to actively participate in self-administered treatments. However, there is a risk of gastroesophageal reflux associated with this technique.This is an update of a review published in 2015.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the effects of standard postural drainage (15º to 45º head-down tilt) with modified postural drainage (15º to 30º head-up tilt) with regard to gastroesophageal reflux in infants and young children up to six years old with cystic fibrosis in terms of safety and efficacy.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group's Cystic Fibrosis Trials Register. We also searched the reference lists of relevant articles and reviews. Additional searches were conducted on ClinicalTrials.gov and on the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform for any planned, ongoing and unpublished studies.The date of the most recent literature searches: 19 June 2017.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled studies that compared two postural drainage regimens (standard and modified postural drainage) with regard to gastroesophageal reflux in infants and young children (up to and including six years old) with cystic fibrosis.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. Two review authors independently identified studies for inclusion, extracted outcome data and assessed risk of bias. We resolved disagreements by consensus or by involving a third review author. We contacted study authors to obtain missing or additional information. The quality of the evidence was assessed using GRADE.

MAIN RESULTS

Two studies, involving a total of 40 participants, were eligible for inclusion in the review. We included no new studies in the 2018 update. The included studies were different in terms of the age of participants, the angle of tilt, the reported outcomes, the number of sessions and the study duration. The following outcomes were measured: appearance or exacerbation of gastroesophageal reflux episodes; percentage of peripheral oxygen saturation; number of exacerbations of upper respiratory tract symptoms; number of days on antibiotics for acute exacerbations; chest X-ray scores; and pulmonary function tests. One study reported that postural drainage with a 20° head-down position did not appear to exacerbate gastroesophageal reflux. However, the majority of the reflux episodes in this study reached the upper oesophagus (moderate-quality evidence). The second included study reported that modified postural drainage (30° head-up tilt) was associated with fewer number of gastroesophageal reflux episodes and fewer respiratory complications than standard postural drainage (30° head-down tilt) (moderate-quality evidence). The included studies had an overall low risk of bias. One included study was funded by the Sydney Children's Hospital Foundation and the other by the Royal Children's Hospital Research Foundation and Physiotherapy Research Foundation of Australia. Data were not able to be pooled by meta-analysis due to differences in the statistical presentation of the data.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

The limited evidence regarding the comparison between the two regimens of postural drainage is still weak due to the small number of included studies, the small number of participants assessed, the inability to perform any meta-analyses and some methodological issues with the studies. However, it may be inferred that the use of a postural regimen with a 30° head-up tilt is associated with a lower number of gastroesophageal reflux episodes and fewer respiratory complications in the long term. The 20° head-down postural drainage position was not found to be significantly different from the 20° head-up tilt modified position. Nevertheless, the fact that the majority of reflux episodes reached the upper oesophagus should make physiotherapists carefully consider their treatment strategy. We do not envisage that there will be any new trials undertaken that will affect the conclusions of this review; therefore, we do not plan to update this review.

Do cystic fibrosis centres with the lowest FEV1 still use the least amount of intravenous antibiotics? A registry-based comparison of intravenous antibiotic use among adult CF centres in the UK

BACKGROUND

The Epidemiologic Study of Cystic Fibrosis using 1995-1996 and 2003-2005 data found that CF centres with lowest FEV₁ tended to use fewer intravenous antibiotics. We repeated the analyses using 2013-2014 UK CF registry data to determine if this was still the case.

METHODS

Analysing data for 2013 and 2014 separately, 28 adult CF centres were ranked according to median % age-adjusted FEV₁. The top 7 centres were placed in the 'upper quarter' (best FEV₁), the bottom 7 centres in 'lower quarter' (lowest FEV₁), and the rest in 'middle half'. IV use was stratified according to %FEV₁, then compared between the three groups.

RESULTS

Centres in the 'upper quarter' and 'middle half' used significantly more IV antibiotics compared to centres in the 'lower quarter' (van Elteren test P-value<0.001). Regression analyses showed that people with CF attending centres in the 'upper quarter' or 'middle half' are 30-50% more likely to receive at least one IV course per year compared to people attending centres in the 'lower quarter'.

CONCLUSIONS

CF centres with lowest FEV₁ are still distinguished by lower use of intravenous antibiotics.

Rescue therapy within the UK Cystic Fibrosis Registry: An exploration of predictors of intravenous antibiotic use amongst adults with CF

Background and objective

Intravenous (i.v.) antibiotics are needed for rescue when preventative therapy fails to achieve stability among adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). Understanding the distribution of i.v. days can provide insight into the care that adults with CF need. We aim to determine the baseline characteristics that are associated with higher i.v. use, in particular to test the hypothesis that prior‐year i.v. use is associated with future‐year i.v. use.

Methods

This is a cross‐sectional analysis of the 2013–2014 UK CF registry data. Stepwise logistic regression was performed using current‐year i.v. days as the dependent variable, and demographic variables including prior‐year i.v. days as the covariates. Based on these results, study sample was divided into clinically meaningful subgroups using analysis similar to tree‐based method.

Results

Data were available for 4269 adults in 2013 and 4644 adults in 2014. Prior‐year i.v. use was the strongest predictor for current‐year i.v. use followed by forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁). Adults with high prior‐year i.v. use (>14 days) continued to require high levels of i.v., regardless of FEV₁. Those with high prior‐year i.v. use and FEV₁ ≥70% had higher current‐year i.v. days compared to adults with low prior‐year i.v. use and FEV₁ <40% (28 days, interquartile range (IQR): 11–41 days vs 14 days, IQR: 0–28 days; Mann–Whitney P‐value <0.001 in 2013).

Conclusion

CF people with prior high levels of rescue often continue to need high levels of rescue even if they have good FEV₁. The reasons for this require further investigations.

Intravenous (i.v.) antibiotic is an important treatment option in cystic fibrosis and is also a marker of pulmonary exacerbations. Our study showed that previous‐year i.v. use is a strong predictor of current‐year i.v. use. This finding could help clinicians to identify people most at risk of future exacerbation.

Comparison of different levels of positive expiratory pressure on chest wall volumes in healthy children and patients with fibrosis

ABSTRACT Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP) improves lung function, however, PEP-induced changes are not fully established. The aim of this study was to assess the acute effects of different PEP levels on chest wall volumes and the breathing pattern in children with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Anthropometric data, lung function values, and respiratory muscle strength were collected. Chest wall volumes were assessed by Optoelectronic plethysmography at rest and during the use of different PEP levels (10 and 20 cm H2O), randomly chosen. Eight subjects with CF (5M, 11.5±3.2 years, 32±9.5 kilograms) and seven control subjects (4M, 10.7±1.5 years, 38.2±7.8 kilograms) were recruited. The CF group showed significantly lower FEF values 25-75% (CF: 1.8±0.8 vs. CG: 2.3±0.6) and FEV1/FVC ratio (CF: 0.8±0.1 vs. CG: 1±0.1) compared with the control group (p<0.05). Different PEP levels increased the usual volume in chest wall and its compartments in both groups; however, this volume was significantly higher in the control group compared with the CF group during PEP20 (CW: 0.77±0.25 L vs. 0.44±0.16 L; RCp: 0.3±0.13 L vs. 0.18±0.1 L; RCa: 0.21±0.1 L vs. 0.12±0.1 L; AB: 0.25±0.1 L vs. 0.15±0.1 L; p<0.05 for all variables). Minute ventilation was significantly higher during PEP compared with breathing at rest in both groups (p<0.005). End-expiratory volume was also higher during PEP compared with breathing at rest for chest wall and pulmonary rib cage in both groups (p<0.05). Different PEP levels may increase chest wall volumes in CF patients.

Personalising airway clearance in chronic lung disease

This review describes a framework for providing a personalised approach to selecting the most appropriate airway clearance technique (ACT) for each patient. It is based on a synthesis of the physiological evidence that supports the modulation of ventilation and expiratory airflow as a means of assisting airway clearance. Possession of a strong understanding of the physiological basis for ACTs will enable clinicians to decide which ACT best aligns with the individual patient's pathology in diseases with anatomical bronchiectasis and mucus hypersecretion.

The physiological underpinning of postural drainage is that by placing a patient in various positions, gravity enhances mobilisation of secretions. Newer ACTs are based on two other physiological premises: the ability to ventilate behind obstructed regions of the lung and the capacity to achieve the minimum expiratory airflow bias necessary to mobilise secretions. After reviewing each ACT to determine if it utilises both ventilation and expiratory flow, these physiological concepts are assessed against the clinical evidence to provide a mechanism for the effectiveness of each ACT. This article provides the clinical rationale necessary to determine the most appropriate ACT for each patient, thereby improving care.

Understanding the basis of airway clearance assists in determining the most appropriate technique for the patienthttp://ow.ly/uQuz307iCIZ