Comparison between rib-cage compression and expiratory flow enhancement techniques in tracheostomised patients

Abstract

Chest physical therapy plays a key role in respiratory complications due to bronchial hypersecretion. Techniques such as thoracic vibrocompression and expiratory flow enhancement (EFE) are some of the ones used to assure airway clearance. This study aimed at assessing the effects of EFE and vibrocompression on airway-secretion removal and its repercussions on hemodynamic and respiratory parameters of tracheostomised patients. Twenty patients of both sexes aged 18 to 73 with diagnosed pulmonary hypersecretion and/or mucus retention were assessed as to hemodynamic and respiratory parameters before and after application of these techniques. After vibrocompression a significant decrease (p<0.05) was noticed in diastolic and mean blood pressure (BP), respectively from 82.2±13.4 to 77.4±13.3 mmHg and from 104.3±18.2 to 90.9±9.07 mmHg; also, mean BP decreased from 103.5±13.2 to 94.1±9.0 mmHg (p<0.05) with the use of EFE. No difference could be found (p=0.60) between the airway-secretion amounts obtained after both techniques. Tracheostomised patients hence presented BP reduction after the application of both vibrocompression and EFE techniques, but the use of either technique made no difference as to the amount of removed secretion.