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| For
years, patients with impaired airway clearance had to rely
on manual Chest Physiotherapy (CPT) — a rigorous, time-consuming
and often inconsistent treatment technique. |
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What
Is HFCWO? |
| High Frequency Chest
Wall Oscillation (HFCWO) |
| Today, High Frequency
Chest Wall Oscillation (HFCWO), also known
as High Frequency Chest Compression (HFCC),
is commonly prescribed and widely practiced for patients
of all ages who are battling the consequences of
retained pulmonary secretions. Lung and bronchial
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 pulmonary secretions. In
fact, the first cost comparison study, published
by BlueCross in 1994, detailed a 50% reduction in
total health care costs with HFCWO. |
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| How is HFCWO easier
for the patient? |
| HFCWO induced airflows move pulmonary mucus upward
to be cleared without requiring burdensome repositioning(1). Repetitive
airflows shear secretions from the airway walls,
thin their viscosity, and mobilize them mouthward(2). HFCWO
is the only airway clearance method that is technique-independent and can be administered by either the
patient or caregiver, with no expertise required.
Patients receive high-quality airway
clearance treatment while in any comfortable position. |
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| Benefits of HFCWO |
| Benefits
of a HFCWO treatment delivered by the SmartVest® and SmartVest
Wrap® include |
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Reduction
in lung infections, such as pneumonia (3,4) |
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Reduction
in hospitalizations (3,4) |
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Reduction
of expensive medications (3,4) |
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Cost
effectiveness by reducing the secondary complications
associated with impaired mucus transport (3,4) |
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1- Chang HK, Weber
ME, King M. Mucus transport by high-frequency nonsymmetrical oscillatory
airflow. J Appl Physiol 1988; 65(3): 1203-1209.
2- Majaesic C, Montgomery M, Jones R, King M. Reduction in sputum
viscosity using high frequency chest compressions compared to conventional
chest physiotherapy. Pediatr Pulmonol 1996; Suppl 13: A358.
3 - 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.
4 - 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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