11-3 High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation vs. Traditional Postural Drainage

High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation vs. Traditional Postural Drainage with Percussion and Vibration in Cystic Fibrosis –  a Large, Long-term, Controlled Study.
Jan Stephen Tecklin,  P.T., M.S., Thomas Scanlin, M.D., Russell G. Clayton, Sr., D.O.

Abstact

High frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) is an effective short-term mode of airway clearance (AC) in cystic fibrosis (CF) but few long-term studies of HFCWO exist and those that do  include small numbers of subjects. We report a one year retrospective study of two groups of children with CF - one group using HFCWO at home, one using postural drainage with percussion and vibration (PDPV) at home.

Method: 102 children (13.7 yr ± 3.7) had twice daily AC with HFCWO and 55 children (12.8 ± 4.2 yr) had twice daily PDPV. Immediately before and after one year of treatment for each group FVC, FEV1, FEF25-75, sGAW, RV/TLC and Brasfield radiographic scores were recorded. Days hospitalized were identified during the 12 months before and during the study year.

Statistical analysis: A t test for independent means compared the one-year change in percent of predicted values for pulmonary function, Brasfield scores and hospital days. Adherence to the recommended 60 minutes of daily HFCWO was recorded for six months.

Results: There were no statistically significant differences for pulmonary function changes, Brasfield radiograph scores, or days hospitalized. Adherence to the 60 minutes per day HFCWO regimen was measured at 60 percent.

Conclusion: HFCWO is an adequate alternative to PDPV for long-term care at home for patients with cystic fibrosis.