Investigating the Effects of Addition of Oscillatory Positive Expiratory Pressure (OPEP) Device to a Chest Physiotherapy Program in Children with Bronchiectasis
Project no. 22479 · Status: Kapanmış · 2020
Summary
<p><strong>Background:</strong> In patients with bronchiectasis, airway cleaning techniques are recommended to remove sputum from the airways and improve lung ventilation. Oscillatory Positive Expiratory Pressure (OPEP) devices are commonly used in the clinical practice for airway clearance since they are simple and easy to use devices. However, these devices are not covered by health insurance in our country.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>Aim of this study is to investigate whether addition of OPEP devices to a comprehensive chest physiotherapy program provide further benefits. Thus, the necessity of putting patients under a financial burden for providing airway clearance will be examined.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>42 children diagnosed with bronchiectasis were randomly assigned into chest physiotherapy group (PT group) or chest physiotherapy + OPEP device group (PT+OPEP group). Both groups performed their exercises at home twice a day, 7 days a week for 8 weeks. Pulmonary function, exercise capacity, dynamic ventilatory responses to exertion, muscle strength and quality of life were assessed at the beginning and the end of the study.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Pulmonary function indicated by FVC (%pred), FEV1 (%pred) and FEF25-75 (%pred), 6-min walk distance, dynamic hyperinflation during exertion indicated by ΔIC, lowest SpO2 during exertion and quadriceps muscle strength significantly improved in both groups (p<0.05). There was no difference between the groups in terms of the improvements occurred (p>0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Adding OPEP devices to a comprehensive chest physiotherapy program that includes breathing exercises, postural drainage and coughing techniques does not provide further benefits for patients. Pulmonary function, exercise capacity and muscle strength can be improved via physiotherapy program, without putting the patients under any financial burden. However, OPEP devices may be considered in patients who cannot access physiotherapy programs or who have low adherence to such programs.</p>