title: Cough assistance device for patients with glottis dysfunction and/or tracheostomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the efficiency of a cough assistance device, the Cough Aid, in patients with weak respiratory muscles with bulbar palsy and/or tracheostomy. The Cough Aid is a device that has been developed to substitute for glottis function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Before-after trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 74 patients with bulbar palsy and/or tracheostomy, as well as respiratory muscle weakness, were recruited.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forced vital capacity, unassisted cough peak flow, lung insufflation capacity, and assisted cough peak flow were measured via tracheostomy or oronasal interface. Lung insufflation capacity and assisted cough peak flow were measured using the Cough Aid.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In all 74 subjects, lung insufflation capacities measured with the device were significantly higher than forced vital capacities (p < 0.01). Assisted cough peak flows measured using the device were also significantly higher than unassisted cough peak flows (p < 0.01). The Cough Aid is effective in helping to increase cough flow and assisting in the air stacking exercise by substituting the function of the glottis in patients who have glottis dysfunction or a tracheostomy tube.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Rehabilitation Institute of Muscular Disease, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Won Ah
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jung Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dong Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seong-Woong
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D010244:Bulbar Palsy, Progressive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003371:Cough / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005931:Glottis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007327:Insufflation; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D014139:Tracheostomy; D014797:Vital Capacity