ACT Series, 10: High-Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation (HFCWO)
The next device that we will cover in our airway clearance technique (ACT) series is high-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO). HFCWO is a commonly prescribed ACT around the world due to it’s ability to be self-administered, it’s less intensive labor requirements, and it being less time consuming than conventional chest physiotherapy. Past research has shown it to be at least as effective as other airway clearance techniques. This however remains hard to prove despite the acceptance of evidence showing that ventilation plays a role in expiratory mobilization of mucus. So outside the United States HFCWO remains an experimental practice. A practice that is reserved for patients with specific medical conditions who are experiencing steep medical declines, and who’s declines have failed to level off or respond to all other forms of airway clearance. HFCWO is usually then granted to these specific patients on compassionate grounds, but not always. Most national health care systems outside the United States follow this line of reasoning, but the patient and their families are often required to pay out of pocket for the more expensive HFCWO devices like the vest airway clearance systems. One such country that allows the vest through this process is the United Kingdom (UK). Although rare, cystic fibrosis (CF) patients who are in step decline and have documentation showing that they have not responded to all other methods of airway clearance can be prescribed the vest airway clearance system in the UK. Whether or not the NHS actually pays for the machine depends on their regional authority who controls expenditures within the region.
Read more: ACT Series, 10: High-Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation (HFCWO)
- Hits: 548