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HFCWO is reported in medical journals to reduce health care costs associated with recurrent pneumonias, antibiotic use, and hospital stays(1,2).

 
   
 
  Research and Evidence
 

Mucus clearance through High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation has been studied since 1983, and the first human study was published in 1989. Since then, in more than 50 studies, HFCWO has consistently been shown to be a safe, effective, and valuable tool in the treatment of retained secretions. In fact, the first cost comparison study, published by BlueCross in 1994, detailed a 50% reduction in total health care costs with HFCWO.  

The Annotated Bibliography below is a starting point for a technical review, followed by additional papers regarding HFCWO and the SmartVest® Airway Clearance System. In addition, you will find helpful links to other sites that are related to pulmonary disease and the organizations that support pulmonary patients. Additional references are available from Electromed, Inc.

Annotated Bibliography
 
  Arens R, Gozal D, Omlin KJ, Vega J, Boyd KP, Keens TG, Woo MS.
View this article online
Comparison of high frequency chest compression and conventional chest physiotherapy
in hospitalized patients with cystic fibrosis.
  Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1994 Oct; 150(4): 1154-7.
 


  The aim of this study was to compare conventional chest physical therapy to high frequency chest compression (another name for high frequency chest wall oscillation) during the course of a 14 day hospitalization for an acute pulmonary exacerbation of cystic fibrosis. Fifty children were randomly assigned to receive either conventional therapy or high frequency chest compression three times each day for the extent of their 14 day hospitalization. Numerous clinical and pulmonary values were collected at admission, after 7 days, and after 14 days of treatment. RESULTS: With one exception, there were no differences in the two groups at admission or after 7 and 14 days. The exception was a significant increase in wet sputum production one hour after high frequency chest compression was completed, although there was no difference in dry sputum weights and all sputum weights were similar after 24 hours of collection. The authors concluded that high frequency chest compression is equally effective to conventional therapy as applied consistently by respiratory therapists and as safe as conventional chest physical therapy.
   
 
  Darbee JC, Kanga JF, Ohtake PJ.
View this article online
Physiologic evidence for high-frequency chest wall oscillation and positive expiratory pressure breathing in hospitalized subjects with cystic fibrosis.
  Phys Ther. 2005 Dec; 85(12): 1278-89.
   
  The objective of this study was to identify physiologic responses to two independent airway clearance techniques in subjects with cystic fibrosis. High frequency chest wall oscillation and low positive expiratory pressure techniques were compared. Subjects were clearly identified as those with moderate to severe pulmonary involvement with cystic fibrosis, admitted to the hospital for an acute pulmonary exacerbation. The design employed a randomized assignment to one intervention for the first day with the alternate intervention provided on day 2. At the concluding 2 days of the hospitalization, the order of interventions was reversed. Outcome measures included ventilation distribution, gas mixing, and oxygen saturation. The interventions were performed appropriately. Both high frequency chest wall oscillation and low positive expiratory pressure (PEP) were equally efficacious in improving ventilation distribution, gas mixing, and pulmonary function in hospitalized people with CF. The authors recommended that patient preference be carefully considered in the choice of these two airway clearance techniques.
   
 
  Oermann CM, Sockrider MM, Giles D, Sontag MK, Accurso FJ, Castile RG.
View this article online
Comparison of high-frequency chest wall oscillation and oscillating positive expiratory pressure in the home management of cystic fibrosis: a pilot study.
  Pediatr Pulmonol. 2001 Nov; 32(5): 372-7.
   
  The three primary objectives of this study comparing high frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) and oscillating positive expiratory pressure (PEP) were to examine safety and efficacy, estimate changes in spirometric values, and determine user satisfaction between the two techniques. The study utilized a prospective randomized crossover design, with a four week period for each therapy. The instrument employed for the satisfaction survey had been previously validated on a similar sample of subjects. RESULTS. There were no significant differences among spirometric values throughout the study, although HFCWO had a positive regression slope suggesting that subjects with better-maintained lung function showed the greatest improvement after treatment. There were no obvious adverse effects with either therapy. HFCWO had the highest efficacy score, oscillating PEP the highest convenience score; and comfort scores showed no differences. Preference was closely associated with perceived efficacy with HFCWO most preferred.
   
 
  Varekojis SM, Douce FH, Flucke RL, Filbrun DA, Tice JS, McCoy KS, Castile RG.
View this article online
A comparison of the therapeutic effectiveness of and preference for postural drainage and percussion, intrapulmonary percussive ventilation, and high-frequency chest wall compression in hospitalized cystic fibrosis patients.
  Respir Care. 2003 Jan; 48(1): 24-8.
   
 

The authors compared the short-term efficacy and preference of three airway clearance techniques in subjects with cystic fibrosis. The techniques were conventional chest physical therapy, high frequency chest wall compression (oscillation), and intrapulmonary percussive ventilation. Twenty-four subjects were hospitalized with an acute pulmonary exacerbation and were recruited within 48 hours of admission. Subjects mean age was 24 years and mean FEV1 was 39% of predicted. Each of the techniques was used for two consecutive days in a randomized, cross-over sequence. Outcome measures were wet and dry sputum weights and a preference ranking based upon a 5 point scale. RESULTS. Wet sputum weight was greatest for intrapulmonary percussion ventilation with the other techniques being similar to one another. Dry sputum weights did not differ. The use of sputum weight as an accurate and appropriate outcome measure of airway clearance is discussed. The preference ranking in these 24 subjects indicated that high frequency chest wall oscillation was the most preferred overall and highest ranked for both convenience and ease of use. The authors concluded that study limitations resulted in the assessment that all three techniques were efficacious and that the subjects should be given the opportunity to experience each technique since preference is so important to successful treatment.

   

 

 
These helpful links cover a variety of topics related to pulmonary disease and the organizations that support pulmonary patients.

 

American Association for Respiratory Care

American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP)

   
  1- Ohnsorg F. A Cost Analysis of High-Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation in Cystic Fibrosis. AM J Respir and Crit Care Med 1994; 149(4): A669.
2 - Plioplys AV, Lewis S, Kasnicka I. Pulmonary vest therapy in pediatric long-term care. Journal of the American Medical Director’s Association 2002 Sep-Oct; 3 (5): 318-321.
   
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