Heart & lung : the journal of critical care
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Can the Flutter Valve improve respiratory mechanics and sputum production in mechanically ventilated patients? A randomized crossover trial.
The Flutter Valve (Varioraw SARL, Scandipharm Inc, Birmingham, AL) has proven efficacy in hypersecretive spontaneously ventilated patients. This study was designed to evaluate whether an airway clearance protocol using the Flutter Valve can affect the therapeutic and physiologic outcomes in mechanically ventilated patients with pulmonary infection. ⋯ The Flutter Valve improves lung secretion removal, mucus production, respiratory mechanics, and arterial oxygenation in mechanically ventilated patients with respiratory infection, without causing clinically relevant hemodynamic repercussions.