TOPIC: Obstructive Lung Diseases TYPE: Original Investigations PURPOSE: Inhaled therapies are the cornerstone of treatment for COPD. In order to achieve an optimal therapeutic response, a patient must be adherent and able use their inhaler appropriately. Spirometry can used assess patient’s potential inspiratory ability; however, such assessments may not predict performance in routine use. This...

To investigate the impact of the inhalation effort on the peak inspiratory flow through Turbuhaler, 100 asthmatics having a wide range of asthma severity (baseline forced expiratory volume in one second 28-127% of predicted normal) were studied. Each patient inhaled through four modifications of empty Turbuhaler inhalers, using first a "deep" inhalation and then a "forceful and deep" inhalation...

BACKGROUND A number of new microprocessor-controlled mechanical ventilators have become available over the last few years. However, the ability of these ventilators to provide continuous positive airway pressure without imposing or performing work has never been evaluated. METHODS In a spontaneously breathing lung model, the authors evaluated the Bear 1000, Drager Evita 4, Hamilton Galileo, N...

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to quantify the specific effects of manual lung inflations with chest compression-vibrations, commonly used to assist airway clearance in ventilated patients. The hypothesis was that force applied during the compressions made a significant additional contribution to increases in peak expiratory flow and expiratory to inspiratory flow ratio over and above that resultin...

Pulmonary function was investigated in 31 consecutive patients with relatively severe Parkinson's disease. Clinical disability was assessed by Hoehn and Yahr scale, Northwestern University Disability Scale and Websterscore. All patients were on levodopa substitution therapy and used anticholinergics. Pulmonary function was investigated by spirography, determination of a maximal inspiratory and ...

BACKGROUND Manual hyperinflation can be used to assist mucus clearance in intubated patients. The technique's effectiveness to move mucus is underpinned by its ability to generate flow bias in the direction of expiration, and this must exceed specific thresholds. It is unclear whether the inspiratory times commonly used by physiotherapists generate sufficient expiratory flow bias based on previ...