Chest, Vol 105, 1789-1793, Copyright © 1994 by American College of Chest Physicians

ARTICLES

Comparison of intrapulmonary percussive ventilation and chest physiotherapy. A pilot study in patients with cystic fibrosis

JE Natale, J Pfeifle and DN Homnick
College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the intrapulmonary percussive ventilator (IPV) to chest physiotherapy (P&PD) with respect to acute changes in (1) pulmonary function and (2) sputum physical properties in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). DESIGN: Randomized crossover. SETTING: Community-based CF referral center. PARTICIPANTS: Nine nonhospitalized person (range, 7 to 40 years; median, 12.4 years) with moderate to excellent Shwachman scores. INTERVENTIONS: Three treatment regimens: (1) 2.5 mg albuterol delivered via IPV (internal percussive component activated); (2) 2.5 mg. albuterol delivered via IPV (internal percussive component inactivated), followed by P&PD; and (3) 2.5 mg albuterol delivered via updraft nebulizer, followed by P&PD. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Outcome measures included pulmonary function testing (PFTs) and quantitative and qualitative sputum analysis. Among the three treatment groups, there were no significant differences in the change in predicted PFTs 1 h or 4 h after treatment, nor in the volume of sputum expectorated in the first 4 or in the subsequent 20 h. Among patients receiving IPV, more serious disease was associated with greater improvement in FEF25-75 1 h after treatment, but these differences disappeared by 4 h. There were no meaningful differences in viscoelastic characteristics of sputum expectorated after each treatments. Participants reported general satisfaction with no adverse effects while using IPV. CONCLUSIONS: This initial pilot study suggests (1) stable patients with CF tolerated one treatment of IPV without adverse sequelae, and (2) IPV was as effective as standard aerosol and P&PD in improving short-term PFT results and enhancing sputum expectoration.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. D. McCool and M. J. Rosen Nonpharmacologic Airway Clearance Therapies: ACCP Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines Chest, January 1, 2006; 129(1_suppl): 250S - 259S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. C. Reardon, D. Christiansen, E. D. Barnett, and H. J. Cabral Intrapulmonary Percussive Ventilation vs Incentive Spirometry for Children With Neuromuscular Disease Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, June 1, 2005; 159(6): 526 - 531. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. H. Marks, K. L. Hare, R. A. Saunders, and D. N. Homnick Pulmonary Function and Sputum Production in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis: A Pilot Study Comparing the PercussiveTech HF Device and Standard Chest Physiotherapy Chest, April 1, 2004; 125(4): 1507 - 1511. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Reychler, A. Keyeux, C. Cremers, C. Veriter, D. O. Rodenstein, and G. Liistro Comparison of Lung Deposition in Two Types of Nebulization: Intrapulmonary Percussive Ventilation vs Jet Nebulization Chest, February 1, 2004; 125(2): 502 - 508. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]