The role of temporary positive expiratory pressure (T-PEP) as respiratory physiotherapy technique for patient affected by non cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis

Background: Respiratory physiotherapy in patients affected by non-CF bronchiectasis has the aim of cleaning airways, aiding expectoration, improving ventilation efficacy and exercise tolerance and reducing dyspnoea. Aim of this study was to evaluate the role of T-PEP devices in addition to conventional physiotherapeutic techniques (CPT) in the management of bronchiectasis. Methods: Patients affected by bronchiectasis underwent respiratory function tests (RFT), arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis, six minute walking test (6MWT) before and after a physiotherapy cycle (PC). Each PC consisted in being treated for 15 days with 20 minute twice-a-day T-PEP application in patients already undergoing CPT (active cycle of breathing, postural drainage and manual techniques). SGRQ, MMRC dyspnoea scale and EuroQoL-VAS (EQ) were applied to assess health-related quality of life (QoL) before and after PC. Paired T-test was used for statistical analysis. Results: 15 patients were enrolled (8 males, 66±14 years old, BMI: 25.6±3.6 Kg/m2). After PC, distance walked in 6MWT significantly increases (99±23 vs 106±22 m, p Conclusions: The use of T-PEP as respiratory physiotherapy technique can be a useful tool for patients affected by bronchiectasis improving QoL scores and distance walked at 6MWT and reducing ΔSpO2 during 6MWT and dyspnoea.