Thoracic Research and Practice
Original Article
Airway Clearance with Expiratory Flow Accelerator Technology: Effectiveness of the “Free Aspire” Device in Patients with Severe COPD

Airway Clearance with Expiratory Flow Accelerator Technology: Effectiveness of the “Free Aspire” Device in Patients with Severe COPD

1.

Pulmonology and Rehabilitation Unit, Cuasso al Monte Hospital, Varese, Italy

2.

Physiotherapy Degree Course, Insubria University, Varese, Italy

3.

SITRA, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy

4.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, General Hospital, Varese, Italy

5.

Pulmonology Unit, Santa Maria Bianca Hospital, Mirandola, Italy

6.

Respiratory Diseases Unit, General Hospital Sestri Levante, Sestri Levante, Italy

Thorac Res Pract 2019; 20: 209-215
DOI: 10.5152/TurkThoracJ.2018.18053
Read: 2413 Downloads: 1419 Published: 25 September 2019

OBJECTIVES: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with a higher risk of pulmonary infections. This risk not only negatively affects patients’ quality of life but also increases social and health costs. Hence, there is a need for an effective rehabilitative treatment including airway clearance. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy of a new tool for bronchial clearance based on expiratory flow accelerator (EFA) technology compared with positive expiratory pressure (PEP) treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty stable patients with COPD, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease 3–4 stage, were enrolled and allocated to treatment with EFA or Bubble-PEP (BP) for 20 days during a pulmonary rehabilitation program. At baseline and the end of treatment, the following parameters were measured: arterial blood gases (ABG); respiratory function, including peak cough expiratory flow (PCEF), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), and maximal expiratory pressure exercise capacity using the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), dyspnea using the Medical Research Council scale, and quality of life using the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire.

RESULTS: Expiratory flow accelerator showed a significant pre- and post-improvement in ABG and a significantly greater improvement than BP in PCEF, MIP, and 6MWT post-treatment.
 

CONCLUSION: Expiratory flow accelerator is a valid device compared with BP as an adjunctive therapy for the treatment of patients with severe COPD.

Cite this article as: Patrizio G, D’Andria M, D’Abrosca F, et al. Airway clearance with expiratory flow accelerator technology: effectiveness of the “free aspire” device in patients with severe COPD. Turk Thorac J 2019; 20(4): 209-15.

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