OBJECTIVE To perform an assessment of the available literature on manual hyperinflation as a respiratory physical therapy technique used in pediatric patients, with the main outcome of achieving airway clearance. METHODS We reviewed articles included in the Lilacs (Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences/Literatura Latino Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde), Cochran...

The airways contain a dense subepithelial microvascular plexus that is involved in the supply and clearance of substances to and from the airway wall. We set out to test the hypothesis that airway smooth muscle reactivity to bronchoconstricting agents may be dependent on airway mucosal blood flow. Immunohistochemical staining identified vasoconstrictor and vasodilator nerve fibers associated wi...

INTRODUCTION Carbon dioxide clearance can be improved by reducing respiratory dead space or by increasing the clearance of carbon-dioxide-laden expiratory gas from the dead space. Aspiration of dead space (ASPIDS) improves carbon dioxide clearance by suctioning out (during expiration) the carbon-dioxide-rich expiratory gas while replacing the suctioned-out gas with oxygenated gas. We hypothesiz...

BACKGROUND Abnormal homeostasis of the volume of airway surface liquid in patients with cystic fibrosis is thought to produce defects in mucus clearance and airway defense. Through osmotic forces, hypertonic saline may increase the volume of airway surface liquid, restore mucus clearance, and improve lung function. METHODS A total of 24 patients with cystic fibrosis were randomly assigned to ...

The mucociliary transport system plays an important role in the clearance of excessive mucus and inhaled foreign materials from the respiratory tract. Airway epithelium’s ciliary structure is a part of the natural defense system that protects the respiratory system by propelling debris laden mucus. The mucus flow is generated by the vigorous asymmetric beating of the cilia, which can be named a...

The pathogenesis of lung disease in cystic fibrosis is characterised by decreased airway surface liquid volume and subsequent failure of normal mucociliary clearance. Mucus within the cystic fibrosis airways is enriched in negatively charged matrices composed of DNA released from colonizing bacteria or inflammatory cells, as well as F-actin and elevated concentrations of anionic glycosaminoglyc...

ee front matter & 2005 upe.2005.02.007 ng author. Tel.: +44 292 3587. ess: [email protected] Summary Cystic fibrosis (CF) has a reported incidence of one in 2500 live births in the UK and is the most common cause of suppurative lung disease in Caucasian children. Effective management of the respiratory component of this condition relies on optimal antibiotic therapy combined with efficient cle...