Respiratory care
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure on Exercise Tolerance, Dynamic Hyperinflation, and Dyspnea in COPD.
The application of expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) in patients with COPD during exercise may reduce dynamic hyperinflation, while, on the other hand, it can increase the resistive work of breathing. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of 2 intensities of EPAP during exercise on tolerance, dynamic hyperinflation, and dyspnea in subjects with moderate to very severe COPD. ⋯ The application of EPAP5 or EPAP10 during exercise tended to cause a progressive reduction in exercise tolerance in subjects with COPD without improvement in dyspnea or dynamic hyperinflation at equivalent exercise duration.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A Comparison of 2 Respiratory Devices for Sputum Clearance in Adults With Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis.
Airway clearance techniques are a vital part of routine care for patients with bronchiectasis. There is no clear superior modality. The Flutter combines oscillations (6-20 Hz) and positive expiratory pressure; the Lung Flute combines positive expiratory pressure and low frequency acoustic waves (18-22 Hz), to augment clearance. This project aimed to compare these devices. ⋯ Both devices were well-tolerated and successfully augmented secretion clearance. Most subjects preferred the Flutter because of increased speed of secretion clearance, and greater ease of use.