Publication:

Utility of vest high frequency chest wall oscillation device versus flutter device in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background Objectives to assess the effectiveness of high frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) vest system and Flutter devices in the treatment of patients with AECOPD, and to compare the efficacy of HFCWO vest system versus Flutter devices.

Methods We conducted an interventional study on 108 out of 129 patients presented with AECOPD, recruited from two-university hospitals. They were classified into three groups, HFCWO group (n=37), Flutter group (n=35), and control group (n=36). The HFCWO group and Flutter group were treated with AECOPD medications in addition to either HFCWO or Flutter physiotherapy, three sessions per week, for four weeks, while control group was treated by medications only. All patients were evaluated before and after treatment by spirometry, ABG, CAT score, and the BODE index.

Results Post treatment assessment for both HFCWO and Flutter groups demonstrated that most of spirometric indices (FEV1%, FVC%, FEV1/FVC %), oxygenations parameters (PaO2, SaO2 %) and CAT score, were significantly improved (p 0.05).

Conclusions Both vest HFCWO and Flutter device are highly effective in treatment of patients with AECOPD in terms of improvement in ventilatory function and oxygenation parameters with better exercise tolerance.