PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Aquino, Evanirso Silva
AU  - Shimura, Francine
AU  - Santos, Adriana Silveira
AU  - Goto, Danielle Miyuki
AU  - Coelho, Cristiane Cenachi
AU  - de Fuccio, Marcelo Bicalho
AU  - Saldiva, Paulo Hilario Nascimento
AU  - Lorenzi-Filho, Geraldo
AU  - Rubin, Bruce K
AU  - Nakagawa, Naomi Kondo
TI  - CPAP Has No Effect on Clearance, Sputum Properties, or Expectorated Volume in Cystic Fibrosis
AID  - 10.4187/respcare.01705
DP  - 2012 Nov 01
TA  - Respiratory Care
PG  - 1914--1919
VI  - 57
IP  - 11
4099  - http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/57/11/1914.short
4100  - http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/57/11/1914.full
AB  - BACKGROUND: Positive expiratory pressure (PEP) is used for airway clearance in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Hypertonic saline (HTS) aerosol increases sputum expectoration volume and may improve respiratory secretion properties. CPAP may also be used to maintain airway patency and mobilize secretions. To evaluate if CPAP would increase the beneficial clearance effect of HTS in subjects with CF, we investigated the effects of CPAP alone and CPAP followed by HTS on sputum physical properties and expectoration volume in CF subjects. METHODS: In this crossover study, 15 CF subjects (mean age 19 y old) were randomized to interventions, 48 hours apart: directed coughs (control), CPAP at 10 cm H2O, HTS 7%, and both CPAP and HTS (CPAP+HTS). Sputum collection was performed at baseline and after interventions. Expectorated volume was determined and in vitro sputum properties were analyzed for contact angle and cough clearability. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between any treatment in arterial blood pressure, heart rate, or pulse oximetry, between the 2 time points. HTS and CPAP+HTS improved cough clearability by 50% (P = .001) and expectorated volume secretion by 530% (P = .001). However, there were no differences between control and CPAP on sputum contact angle, cough clearability, or volume of expectorated secretion. CONCLUSIONS: CPAP alone had no effect on mucus clearance, sputum properties, or expectorated volume, and did not potentiate the effect of HTS alone in CF subjects.