OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cough efficiency using two manually-assisted cough techniques. METHODS: We selected 28 patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The patients were receiving noninvasive nocturnal ventilatory support and presented FVC values < 60% of predicted. Peak cough flow (PCF) was measured, with the patient seated, at four time points: at baseline, during a spontaneous maximal expiratory effort (MEE); during an MEE while receiving chest compression; during an MEE after air stacking with a manual resuscitation bag; and during an MEE with air stacking and compression (combined technique). The last three measurements were conducted in random order. The results were compared using Pearson's correlation test and ANOVA with repeated measures, followed by Tukey's post-hoc test (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 20 +/- 4 years, and the mean FVC was 29 +/- 12%. Mean PCF at baseline, with chest compression, after air stacking and with the use of the combined technique was 171 +/- 67, 231 +/- 81, 225 +/- 80, and 292 +/- 86 L/min, respectively. The results obtained with the use of the combined technique were significantly better than were those obtained with the use of either technique alone (F[3,69] = 67.07; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Both chest compression and air stacking techniques were efficient in increasing PCF. However, the combination of these two techniques had a significant additional effect (p < 0.0001).

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