Breathing exercise using a new breathing device increases airway secretion clearance in mechanically ventilated patients

Efficacy of Respiratory Physiotherapy Interventions for Intubated and Mechanically Ventilated Adults with Pneumonia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Purpose: A systematic review was conducted to investigate the effect of respiratory physiotherapy on mortality, quality of life, functional recovery, intensive care length of stay, duration of ventilation, oxygenation, secretion clearance, and pulmonary mechanics for invasively ventilated adults with pneumonia. Method: Five databases were searched for randomized trials published between January 1995 and November 2018. Study quality was assessed using a standardized Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool, and Review Manager software was used to pool the studies. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to evaluate the level of certainty of the evidence. Results: A total of 14 studies of moderate quality included 251 subjects with pneumonia. Eight studies were pooled for meta-analysis. Interventions that increased inspiratory volume appeared to benefit secretion clearance by nearly 2 grams (mean difference [MD] 1.97; 95% CI: 0.80, 3.14; very low GRADE evidence) and increase static lung compliance immediately after treatment by more than 5 millilitres/centimetre H20 (MD 5.40 mL/cm H2O; 95% CI: 2.37, 8.43; very low GRADE evidence) or by more than 6 millilitres/centimetre H2O after a 20- to 30-minute delay (MD 6.86 mL/cm H2O; 95% CI: 2.86, 10.86; very low GRADE evidence). No adverse events were found. Conclusions: Respiratory physiotherapy that increases tidal volume may benefit secretion clearance and lung compliance in invasively ventilated adults with pneumonia, but its impact on other outcomes, including mortality, length of stay, and other patient-centred outcomes, is unclear, and further research is required.

Expert consensus for respiratory physiotherapy management of mechanically ventilated adults with community-acquired pneumonia: A Delphi study

RATIONALE AND AIMS

Patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) are frequently admitted to an intensive care unit. Physiotherapy may be provided to optimize respiratory function; however, there is significant variability in clinical practice and limited research directing best practice for this cohort. This study aimed to determine expert consensus for best physiotherapy practice for invasively ventilated adults with CAP.

METHOD

A modified Delphi technique involved an international expert panel completing three rounds of an online questionnaire. The initial 35-statement questionnaire, based on a systematic literature review and survey of current clinical practice, covered physiotherapy assessment and treatment of intubated patients with CAP. Quantitative data using Likert scales determined level of agreement, with qualitative data collected through open-ended responses. Consensus threshold was set a priori at 70%. Items not achieving consensus were modified and new items added based on themes from qualitative data. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively, with thematic analysis used on qualitative data.

RESULTS

The panel comprised 29 international clinical and academic experts in critical care physiotherapy. Response rate was more than 95% for each round. Outcome achieved was 38 consensus statements covering assessment and treatment, with 28 statements (74%) providing consensus on recommended clinical practice, two consensus disagreement statements (7%) for what practice is not recommended, and eight statements (21%) indicating which treatments may be beneficial.

CONCLUSION

Expert consensus regarding physiotherapy for intubated adults with CAP patients provides an evidence-based approach to guide clinical practice. The consensus statements can also be used to guide research evaluating physiotherapy interventions for patients with CAP.

The immediate effects of breathing with oscillated inspiratory and expiratory airflows on secretion clearance in intubated patients with cervical spinal cord injury

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective, randomized crossover trial.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy of the combination of incentive spirometry with oscillation (OIS) and positive expiratory pressure with oscillation (OPEP) to promote secretion clearance in intubated patients with cervical spinal cord injury.

SETTING

Spinal cord unit, tertiary care hospital, North East Thailand.

METHODS

Thirteen intubated patients (C4-7, AIS score C) with secretion retention performed three interventions randomly allocated on consecutive days, a Sham deep breathing, OPEP and OPEP + OIS breathing exercise. Secretions were collected by sterile suction for 3 h before, and 3 h after, each intervention and wet weight recorded. Cardiopulmonary parameters were measured before and after each intervention.

RESULTS

The median (IQR) secretion wet weight pre-intervention was 2.61 g (2.21, 3.85) and in the 3 h after Sham there was an increase of 1.97 g (0.6, 3.6). The increase after OPEP was 2.67 g (1.7, 3.9) and after OPEP + OIS, 4.28 g (2.4, 6.7); all the increases being significant (p ≤ 0.007). The clearance after OPEP and OPEP + OIS were both greater than Sham while OPEP + OIS was greater than OPEP (p ≤ 0.019). There were no significant changes in cardiopulmonary measures following any intervention or when compared between interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

Deep breathing with an oscillated and humidified air flow in a combination of OIS + OPEP more than doubled secretion clearance and was more effective than OPEP or Sham deep breathing. There were no adverse effects of the procedures which were well tolerated by the patients and may be used to complement existing methods for secretion clearance.

Comparison of breathing patterns, pressure, volume, and flow characteristics of three breathing techniques to encourage lung inflation in healthy older people

Background: It is important to encourage lung inflation to prevent postsurgical pulmonary complications and we compared three breathing techniques that place different emphasis on inspiratory flow and breath-holding. Methods: Fourteen healthy older people (69 ± 3.6 yrs) used diaphragmatic breathing (DB), Triflo II (TF), and a water pressure threshold device (BreatheMAX; BM) in a randomized and balanced crossover design. Outcome measures were inspiratory flow and pressure, inspiratory time (Ti), tidal volume (Vt), and breathing frequency. Results: Inspiratory flow with TF was significantly faster than DB and BM (p < 0.001: 0.96 ± 0.1; 0.43 ± 0.20 and 0.28 ± 0.1 L.s^-1, respectively) and pressures greater (p < 0.001: -1.3 ± 0.6, -5.5 ± 1.2 and -2.8 ± 3.6 cm H₂O). However, Ti was shorter (TF, 1.16 ± 0.21s; DB, 3.31 ± 0.97 s, p < 0.001; BM, 5.53 ± 1.92 s, p < 0.001), resulting in smaller Vt (TF, 1.12 ± 0.29 L; DB, 1.28 ± 0.29L, p = 0.003; BM, 1.37 ± 0.43L, p = 0.016). Breathing frequency was faster with TF compared to DB and BM (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Substantial lung inflation could be achieved with any of the above-mentioned methods, although Vt was smaller with TF and the high inspiratory flow with this method may not inflate the lower lung. The high pressures and rapid breathing with TF could increase the sense of effort. Trials are needed to determine the clinical value of the different breathing exercises.

Novel therapies for perioperative respiratory complications

Postoperative respiratory complications are of paramount clinical importance as they prolong the hospitalization, increase the costs of treatment and contribute to the perioperative mortality. Obesity, preexisting pulmonary disease and advanced age are known risk factors for developing postoperative respiratory complications, which affect exceeding number of patients. Hereby, we present a review on the pathogenesis of post-operative respiratory complications particularly in obese and older patients. We further focus on the standard management and emerging therapies for the post-operative respiratory complications.

Acute hemodynamic responses to 30° head-down postural drainage in stable, ventilated trauma patients: a randomized crossover trial

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether 30° head-down tilt (HDT) used for secretion clearance is safe for acute trauma patients.

BACKGROUND

There are concerns that HDT may lead to cardiac irregularities in intubated patients in the ICU.

METHODS

Eleven mechanically ventilated trauma patients (25-42 yrs) without cardiovascular problems received two interventions, one supine HDT for 10 min and a control in the horizontal supine position (HS), in a crossover design.

RESULTS

Compared to baseline there were statistically significant (p < 0.05) increases in SBP (6.3 mm Hg; 95% CI 2.5, 12.7) and CVP (7.3 cm H2O; 5.7, 10.0) during 10 min HDT although these were not of clinical concern. Heart rate and oxygen saturation were unchanged. No episodes of arrhythmia or hypoxemia were observed. All values returned close to baseline during 10 min horizontal recovery. There were no significant changes during the control HS intervention.

CONCLUSION

30° HDT entails minimal risk for trauma patients who have no underlying cardiovascular disease.