High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillations Versus Lung Flute in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Post(SARS-CoV-2)

COPD causes an acute deterioration of respiratory symptoms, particularly increased breathlessness and cough, and increased sputum volume and/or purulence. Worsening airflow limitation is associated with an increasing prevalence of exacerbations and risk of death. These exacerbations can range from self-limited diseases to episodes of florid respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation .Hospitalization for COPD patients post COVID is associated with poor prognosis with increased risk of death. Hence techniques of efficient clearance of peripheral airways may reduce airway occlusion by excess mucus and inflammatory cells, improving lung function, exercise capacity and reducing exacerbation frequency.

Patients were assigned to 2 groups with pre- and post- treatment protocol application. All patients were thoroughly evaluated before and after treatment protocol application. Thirty patients (Group A) received high frequency chest wall oscillation with vest system in addition to their prescribed medication, 3 times per week for three successive weeks and the total duration of each session was 15-30 minutes. Thirty patients (Group B) received Lung flute (OPEP) in addition to their prescribed medication, 2 times per week twice a day for three successive weeks and the total duration of each session was 10-15 minutes