title: Effect of intrapulmonary percussive ventilation on expiratory flow limitation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this prospective study were (1) to select, after weaning and extubation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with expiratory flow limitation (EFL) measured by the negative expiratory pressure method and (2) to assess, in these patients, the short-term (30 minutes) physiologic effect of a session of intrapulmonary percussive ventilation (IPV).
  
  
  METHODS
  All COPD patients who were intubated and needed weaning from mechanical ventilation were screened after extubation. The patients were placed in half-sitting position and breathed spontaneously. The EFL and the airway occlusion pressure after 0.1 second (P0.1) were measured at the first hour after extubation. In COPD patients with EFL, an IPV session of 30 minutes was promptly performed by a physiotherapist accustomed to the technique. Expiratory flow limitation, gas exchange, and P0.1 were recorded at the end of the IPV session.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 35 patients studied after extubation, 25 patients presented an EFL and were included in the study. Intrapulmonary percussive ventilation led to a significant improvement in EFL, respectively, before and 30 minutes after IPV (65.4 +/- 18.2 vs 35.6 +/- 22.8; P < .05). Three patients were not expiratory flow limited after IPV. Intrapulmonary percussive ventilation led to a significant decrease in P0.1 (3.9 +/- 1.6 vs 2.8 +/- 1.1; P < .05). Thirty minutes of IPV led to a significant increase in Pao(2) and pH and a decrease in Paco(2) and respiratory rate (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In COPD patients, a session of IPV allowed a significant reduction of EFL and of P01 and a significant improvement of gas exchange.
authors.affiliation: Département de Réanimation Médicale, Hôpital Pellegrin Tripode, 33076 Bordeaux Cedex, France. frederic.vargas@chu-bordeaux.fr
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boyer
authors.forename: Hoang Nam
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Bui
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guenard
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gruson
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hilbert