Airstacking with ambu bag in children with neuromuscular disease. With or without a pressure release valve?

Abstract

Background: Airstacking with ambu bag is used in the treatment of patients with neuromuscular disorders (NMD) to help maintain sufficient lung volume and cough ability. The necessary pressure for optimal efficacy in children is not known. Aim: The aim was to assess the impact of adding a pressure release valve (35 cmH2O), during airstacking, on lung volume and cough ability in children with NMD immediately and after 10 weeks. Method and material: Single subject experimental design was used to measure maximal insufflationcapacity and peak cough flow in two boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Norway. Results: Both boys showed clinically relevant changes in lung volume and cough flow. Adding a pressure release valve to the ambu bag was not appropriate or necessary. Both boys reported the technique as simple, safe and feasible with no recorded adverse events.

Keywords

• Neuromuscular diseases
• physical therapy modalities
• respiratory therapy
• airstacking
• respiratory function tests
• cough