title: Evaluation of the PEP mask in cystic fibrosis.
abstract: Twenty-eight patients suffering from cystic fibrosis, with an age range of 8-21 years entered a randomised cross-over trial to study the efficacy of the Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP) mask as a method of chest physiotherapy, both on its own and in conjunction with other physiotherapy techniques. Twenty-four of these patients completed the trial consisting of 4 treatment programmes each lasting one month and with no wash-out period between them. Five of these patients went on to a fifth programme of Forced Expiratory Technique (FET) alone. At the end of the trial, no significant difference was found between the programmes as regards growth, Shwachman score, Chrispin-Norman score or pulmonary function tests. Twenty-three patients chose to continue using the PEP mask in conjunction with FET long-term as their chest physiotherapy programme as they felt it was an effective treatment allowing increased independence, with postural drainage being kept to a minimum.
authors.affiliation: Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, N. Ireland.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Steen
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Redmond
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beattie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000628:therapy*; D015916:Drainage, Postural; D006801:Humans; D008397:Masks; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000379:methods*; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D012119:Respiration