The influence of Flutter®VRP1 components on mucus transport of patients with bronchiectasis

SummaryBackgroundThe Flutter®VRP1 combines high frequency oscillation and positive expiratory pressure (PEP).ObjectiveTo separately evaluate the effect of the Flutter®VRP1 components (high frequency oscillation and PEP) on mucus transportability in patients with bronchiectasis.MethodsEighteen patients with bronchiectasis received sessions with the Flutter®VRP1 or PEP for 30 min daily in a randomized, crossover study. The treatment duration was four weeks with one of the therapies, one week of a “wash-out” period and followed by four more weeks with the other treatment. Weekly secretion samples were collected and evaluated for mucociliary relative transport velocity (RTV), displacement in a simulated cough machine (SCM) and contact angle measurement (CAM). For the proposed comparisons, a linear regression model was used with mixed effects with a significance level of 5%.ResultsThe Flutter®VRP1 treatment resulted in greater displacement in SCM and lower CAM when comparing results from the first (9.6 ± 3.4 cm and 29.4 ± 5.7°, respectively) and fourth weeks of treatment (12.44 ± 10.5 cm and 23.28 ± 6.2°, respectively; p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the RTV between the treatment weeks for either the Flutter®VRP1 or PEP.ConclusionThe use of the Flutter®VRP1 for four weeks is capable of altering the respiratory secretion transport properties, and this alteration is related to the high frequency oscillation component.