title: Breathing exercise using a new breathing device increases airway secretion clearance in mechanically ventilated patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new device (BreatheMAX) that humidifies and oscillates inspired air to increase secretion clearance in mechanically ventilated patients.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Poor secretion clearance is a serious problem for intubated patients leading to lung complications and delayed weaning.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double blinded crossover; fifteen patients, median age 60 years, range 16-75. Interventions consisted of spontaneous deep breathing with (treatment) and without (sham) humidification and oscillation of inspired air. Airway secretions were aspirated for 3 h before and after each intervention and wet weight and viscosity determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sham intervention caused no change in secretion clearance (95% CI: -1.8, 1.8 g) but after treatment secretions increased by 4.0 g (95% CI: 1.3, 6.7; p < 0.05). Viscosity decreased 30% after treatment and was unchanged after sham. Changes in cardiopulmonary function were not clinically significant and the patients reported only mild perceptions of breathlessness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breathing exercise with a device that includes vibration and humidification of inspired air is effective for increasing secretion clearance with patients dependent on mechanical ventilation and was without any adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen Province 40002, Thailand. chulee@kku.ac.th
authors.forename: Chulee U
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Sujittra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kluayhomthong
authors.forename: Seksan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chaisuksant
authors.forename: Wilaiwan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Khrisanapant
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001945:Breathing Exercises / Q000295:instrumentation*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012119:Respiration; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D013183:Sputum / Q000378:metabolism*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult