Korean J Crit Care Med.  2011 Nov;26(4):256-260. 10.4266/kjccm.2011.26.4.256.

High-frequency Chest Wall Oscillation Therapy: Clinical Effectiveness in the Patients with Pulmonary Contusion

• Lee DS
• Park SW
• Yeom SR
• Han SK
• Lee SH
• Ryu JH

• KMID: 2228052
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2011.26.4.256

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Pulmonary contusion is the most common pulmonary parenchymal injury in blunt chest trauma and may constitute a life-threatening thoracic injury. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of high-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) therapy in patients with pulmonary contusion.
METHODS
Patients with lung contusion either received HFCWO therapy using the Vest system (Vest group; n = 18) or received conventional chest physiotherapy (non-Vest group; n = 23). The physiological parameters of the patients, length of stay in hospital and ICU, and the duration of mechanical ventilation were compared between the two groups. Variables, including pulmonary contusion score, percentage of patients receiving mechanical ventilation therapy, and PaO2/FiO2 ratio, were also analyzed.
RESULTS
The pulmonary contusion score was higher in the Vest group (p < 0.01), and mechanical ventilation was used more frequently in the Vest group (p = 0.027). Improvement in the PaO2/FiO2 ratio over the first 48 h did not differ between the Vest and Non-Vest groups. No significant differences in the physiological parameters, hospital and ICU stays, and duration of mechanical ventilation were observed between the two groups.
CONCLUSIONS
The therapeutic effect of the Vest system in patients with pulmonary contusion was similar to that of conventional chest physiotherapy. Therefore, the Vest system could be considered as an airway clearance technique in the management of patients with pulmonary contusion.

Keyword

chest wall oscillations; lung injury; physical therapy

MeSH Terms

Chest Wall Oscillation
Contusions
Humans
Length of Stay
Lung
Lung Injury
Respiration, Artificial
Thoracic Injuries
Thorax