• James K Schmitt, Steven Stiens, Rose Trincher, Mylam Lam, Mehdii Sarkarati, Steven Linder, and Chester H Ho.
• Department of Internal Medicine, H. H. McGuire VA Medical Center, 1201 Broad Rock Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23113, USA. Deborah.elder@va.gov
• J Spinal Cord Med. 2007 Jan 1; 30 (2): 127-30.

Background/ObjectiveThe insufflator-exsufflator has been shown to be effective in assisting cough in individuals with spinal cord injury. However, many institutions do not use this device. The study was performed to assess use of the device and attitudes among health care providers.MethodsWe developed a questionnaire with 4 categories of questions: knowledge of the device, type of facility, clinical practice with the device, and patient and provider satisfaction. The questionnaire was mailed to members of the American Paraplegia Society.ResultsEighty-six questionnaires (16%) were returned. The device was being used in 49% of the institutions. The device was most commonly used with a tracheostomy; use did not correlate with size or type of facility. Patient and provider satisfaction with the insufflator-exsufflator was high.ConclusionsThe insufflator-exsufflator is used as a means of removal of secretions in approximately one half of institutions polled. Satisfaction with the device is high.

43 keywords...

hide…