TY - JOUR T1 - Effect of High-Frequency Oscillations on Cough Peak Flows Generated by Mechanical In-Exsufflation in Medically Stable Subjects With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis JF - Respiratory Care SP - 1051 LP - 1058 DO - 10.4187/respcare.04552 VL - 61 IS - 8 AU - Jesús Sancho AU - Enric Bures AU - Saray de La Asunción AU - Emilio Servera Y1 - 2016/08/01 UR - http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/61/8/1051.abstract N2 - BACKGROUND: Mechanically assisted coughing with mechanical in-exsufflation (MI-E) is recommended for noninvasive management of respiratory secretions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). To improve the effectiveness of the technique, a new device combining MI-E with high-frequency oscillations (HFO) has been developed. This work aimed to assess the effect of HFO on the cough peak flow generated by MI-E in medically stable subjects with ALS.METHODS: This was a prospective study that included subjects with ALS in a medically stable condition. Cough peak flow generated by MI-E was measured in 4 situations: without HFO, with HFO during insufflation, with HFO during exsufflation, and with HFO in both cycles. The parameters used were: insufflation pressure of +40 cm H2O, exsufflation pressure of −40 cm H2O, insufflation time 2 s, exsufflation time 3 s, amplitude of oscillations 10 cm H2O, and frequency of oscillations 15 Hz.RESULTS: Forty-seven subjects with ALS were included: 66% males, 68.2 ± 9.2 y, 40% with bulbar onset, FVC = 1.7 ± 1.1 L, percent-of-predicted FVC = 54.4 ± 26.6%, cough peak flow = 3.8 ± 2.2 L/s, PImax = −39.4 ± 26.4 cm H2O, revised ALS scale = 28.5 ± 9.3, Norris bulbar subscore = 26.1 ± 10.4. No statistical differences were found in cough peak flow generated by MI-E in the 4 situations (without HFO = 4.0 ± 1.2 L/s, with insufflation HFO = 3.9 ± 1.2 L/s, with exsufflation HFO = 4.1 ± 1.2 L/s, with in-exsufflation HFO = 3.9 ± 1.1 L/s).CONCLUSIONS: The addition of HFO to mechanically assisted coughing with MI-E does not have an effect on the cough peak flow of medically stable subjects with ALS. ER -