Effect of high-frequency chest wall oscillation versus chest physiotherapy on lung function after lung transplant: A pilot study.
Esguerra-Gonzales A, Ilagan-Honorio M, et al.Applied Nursing Research. 2013, 27, 59-66.
Aims
To investigate the effectiveness of high frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) versus chest physiotherapy (CPT) in reducing shortness of breath and lung function in lung transplant recipients.
Interventions
Patients were randomised to one of two groups. Patients received either CPT twice or HFCWO in the first half of the third post operative day In the second half of the day CPT was administered if the patient received HFCWO and HFCWO if the patient received CPT.
Participants
45 adult, single or bilateral lung transplant recipients.
Outcomes
The outcomes included dyspnea measured by a pooled categorical and interval rating scale, and lung function including peak expiratory flow and Spo2 /Fio2.
Follow-up
Before, after and during treatment.
CET Conclusions
This paper reports a randomised cross-over study of high frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) and standard chest physiotherapy (CPT) on lung transplant recipients. The authors report no difference in peak expiratory flow or dysponea scores between treatments, but do demonstrate a significant difference in the SpO2 to FiO2 ratio with HFCWO. The crossover design of the trial makes the analysis complex and difficult to understand, and the differences between treatments appear to be small. Measurements of outcomes are all made within 30 minutes of the end of treatment, so it is unclear from this data whether the effects are sustained or indeed have any effect on long-term function or infection rates. Furthermore, the sample size is small and no sample-size calculation is presented.
Data analysis
Per protocol analysis
Trial registration
Not reported