title: Eltgol acutelly improves airway clearance and reduces static pulmonary volumes in adult cystic fibrosis patients.
abstract: Chest physical therapy techniques are essential in order to reduce the frequency of recurrent pulmonary infections that progressively affect lung function in cystic fibrosis patients. Recently, ELTGOL (L'Expiration Lente Totale Glotte Ouverte en décubitus Latéral) emerged as an inexpensive and easy to perform therapeutic option. The aim of this study was to compare the acute effects of ELTGOL and the Flutter valve in stable adult patients with cystic fibrosis. [Subjects and Methods] This was a randomized, crossover study with a sample of cystic fibrosis outpatients. The subjects underwent two protocols (Flutter Valve and ELTGOL interventions, referred to as ELTGOL and FLUTTER) in a randomized order with a one-week washout interval between them. The main outcomes were pulmonary function variables and expectorated sputum dry weight. [Results] ELTGOL cleared 0.34 g more of secretions than FLUTTER (95% CI 0.11 to 0.57). When comparing the physiological effects of ELTGOL and FLUTTER, the first was superior in improving airway resistance (-0.51 cmH2O/L/s; 95% CI -0.88 to -0.14) and airway conductance (0.016 L/s/cmH2O; 95% CI 0.008 to 0.023). [Conclusion] ELTGOL promoted higher secretion removal and improvement in airway resistance and conductance than the Flutter valve. These techniques were equivalent in reducing the pulmonary hyperinflation and air trapping in cystic fibrosis patients.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Science Graduate Program, Augusto Motta University Centre (UNISUAM), Brazil ; Physical Therapy Department, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando Silva
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Science Graduate Program, Augusto Motta University Centre (UNISUAM), Brazil ; Laboratory of Respiratory Physiology, University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Agnaldo José
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Science Graduate Program, Augusto Motta University Centre (UNISUAM), Brazil.
authors.forename: Vanessa Joaquim Ribeiro
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Moço
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Science Graduate Program, Augusto Motta University Centre (UNISUAM), Brazil.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cavalcanti de Souza
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Science Graduate Program, Augusto Motta University Centre (UNISUAM), Brazil ; Physical Therapy Department, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sara Lúcia
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Silveira de Menezes
keywords: Chest physiotherapy; Cystic fibrosis; ELTGOL