Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure Therapy May Be Performed Poorly by Children With Cystic Fibrosis
BACKGROUND: Oscillating positive expiratory pressure devices aid removal of excess secretions and reduce gas trapping in patients with hypersecretory pulmonary diseases, for example, cystic fibrosis. Oscillating positive expiratory pressure works when the patient exhales actively against a fixed resistor, which generates mean intrapulmonary pressures of 10–20 cm H2O with rapid fluctuations of at least 1 cm H2O from the mean. In this study, we evaluated the performance of oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy by pediatric subjects with cystic fibrosis to determine adherence to target therapeutic pressures. METHODS: Twenty-one pediatric subjects were recruited. Each had a history of using an oscillating positive expiratory pressure device twice daily and had received standardized training and instructions from the same specialist physiotherapist. Performance was evaluated by using a flow and pressure sensor placed in-line between the participant’s mouth and the device. The par