title: Use of flutter VRP1 in the management of patients with steroid-dependent asthma.
abstract: We have assessed a new positive expiratory pressure device, the Flutter VRP1, in 20 patients with moderately severe asthma. Patients were studied for an initial 1-week 'run-in' period, followed by 2 weeks of the flutter device in one of which the ball-bearing was removed from the bowl. Peak expiratory flow rates, salbutamol inhaler requirements and visual analogue scores were recorded daily. Ease of sputum expectoration showed a significant improvement after 6 days of the flutter device, but there were no differences in objective measurements of lung function nor in salbutamol use. The device may be a useful adjunct to asthma therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Medicine, Llandough Hospital, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Swift
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rainer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saran
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Prescott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D011239:Prednisolone