Airway Clearance in Children Youth and Adolescents – Does The Device Really Matter?

1. Airway Clearance in Children Youth and Adolescents – Does The Device Really Matter? Chris Landon MD FAAP,FCCP,CMD Director of Pediatrics Ventura County Medical Center Pediatric Pulmonary Center Director Mid Coast Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics USC School of Medicine Pediatric Pulmonary Department Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

2. Disclaimer Scientific Advisory Boards Hill-Rom

3. Objectives • I. Review of the rationale for airway clearance therapy and basic principles • II. Review the evidence for efficacy of airway clearance therapy in pediatrics • III. Minimal to no benefit in the treatment of children with acute asthma, bronchiolitis, hyaline membrane disease, and those on mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure in the pediatric intensive care unit, and it is not effective in preventing atelectasis in children immediately following surgery.

4. Neuromuscular Diseases: Overview • Children who experience varying degrees of neurological/neuromuscular dysfunction • Diagnoses include: cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, brain injury, consequences of infectious disease, inherited metabolic disorders, etc. • One child in 1000 is institutionalized as a result of profound disability

5. Neuromuscular Diseases: Overview Multi-system assessment necessary to determine risk of pulmonary involvement: • Neuromuscular • Gastroesophageal • Immune system • Respiratory • Psychosocial

6. Neuro assessment – Oral motor weakness Muscular dystrophies Myopathies Neuromuscular junction disorders Anterior horn cell disorders Typical symptoms Too weak to swallow Too weak to cough Easily fatigued Head position dependent Neuromuscular Diseases Assessment of complications that predispose to pulmonary involvement

7. Neuro assessment – Increased secretions Autonomic dysfunction Medication effects Frequent seizures Typical symptoms Constant drooling Worse with stress or infection Drowning in drool NeuromuscularDiseases Assessment of complications that predispose to pulmonary involvement

8. Oral Motor Weakness • Myopathies • Muscular dystrophies • Neuromuscular junction disorders • Anterior horn cell disorders • Typical symptoms • Too weak to swallow • Too weak to cough • Easily fatigued • Head position dependent

9. Central Neurogenic Hypoventilation • Diffuse cortical damage • Poor hypoxic response • Poor hypercarbic response • Worse with stress or infection

10. Thoracic Weakness • Myopathies • Muscular dystrophies • Neuromuscular junction disorders • Anterior horn cell disorders

11. The Upper Airway-Swallowing and Aspiration Aspiration Associated Pneumonias Lower Esophageal Aspiration, Gastric Distention and Airway Remodeling Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Fundoplication Versus Medication and Airway Clearance Nutrition and the Immune System Gastroesophageal Function and Complications

12. The Faces of Dysfunction Arching Regurgitation Failure To Thrive Irritability Refusing Feedings Gagging and Choking

13. Genetic Abnormalities Nutritional Compromise of the Immune System Stress and Immune Response Recurrent Infection and Frequent Use of Antibiotics: The Impacts Allergies Reactive Airway Disease (RAD) Airway Clearance Therapy The Immune System

14. Respiratory Medical History • Number of Pulmonary Infections Annually • Number of Hospital Admissions Annually • Number of ER Admissions Annually • Number of Courses of Antibiotics for Respiratory Infections Annually • Immunization History • History of Recurrent Infections with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

15. High Risk For Post-Operative Complications • Atelectasis • Pneumonia • Respiratory Failure • Need for prolonged ventilation • Tracheostomy • Death

16. Problems • Weak cough • Dyscoordinated swallow • Aspiration • Difficulty clearing secretions • Increased lower respiratory tract infections

17. Respiratory Weakness • May not be apparent on physical exam • Respiratory failure when work of breathing is increased

18. Chronic Respiratory Muscle Weakness • Reduced lung volumes • Microatelectasis • V/Q mismatch • Scoliosis • Decreased compliance of the chest wall • Decreased pulmonary compliance • Hypoxemia only during sleep • Hypoventilation due to muscle weakness • Hypoventilation due to central hypoventilation

19. Thorough History • Frequency and severity of respiratory tract infections • Pulmonary complications of previous surgeries • History suggestive of reactive airways disease • Even mildly increased airway obstruction may lead to respiratory failure in the postoperative period in a patient with severe respiratory muscle weakness

20. Physical Examination • Gag reflex • Cough • Adequacy of aeration • Presence of adventitial lung sounds

21. Ability To Cooperate With Post-Operative Pulmonary Therapy • General muscle strength • Physical and intellectual capacity

22. Laboratory Examinations • Chest x-ray • Arterial blood gases or mixed venous gas measurements and oximetry • Complete blood count

23. Pulmonary Function Tests • All children who are capable of performing them • Lung volumes • Pre and post bronchodilator • Maximal inspiratory and expiratory mouth pressures • frequently decreased more than lung volumes and flows • do not correlate with general muscle strength

24. Impaired Airway Clearance: Factors Ineffective mucociliary clearance Excessive secretions Thick secretions Ineffective cough Restrictive lung disease Immobility / inadequate exercise Dysphagia / aspiration / gastroesophageal reflux

25. Results of Impaired Airway Clearance Airway obstruction Mucus plugging Atelectasis Impaired gas exchange Infection Inflammation

26. Disease States with Compromised Airway Clearance • Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia • Neuromuscular Disease • Predisposes to respiratory failure • Distinct risk factor for morbidity and mortality • Severe neurologic insults • Cystic Fibrosis • Bronchiectasis • No proven benefit for airway clearance therapy in pneumonia, asthma not complicated by atelectasis, bronchiolitis

27. Airway Clearance Devices CPT for infants PEP Valve Flutter Acapella Cough Assist The Vest System

28. Chest Physiotherapy for Infants No definitive data to support use in asymptomatic CF infant. Most likely age group to have adverse effects, especially GER + aspiration. Must modify postural drainage to minimize side effects Significant time commitment for families and Healthcare teams

29. PEP Valve Positive Expiratory Pressure Action: Splints airways during exhalation Can be used with aerosolized medications Technique dependent Portable Time required: 10-15 minutes

30. Flutter Action: Loosens mucus through expiratory oscillation; positive expiratory pressure splints airways. Used independently Technique dependent – has to be held at a precise angle to maximize oscillation Portable May not be effective at low airflows Time required: 10-15 minutes

31. Acapella Combines benefits of PEP and airway vibrations to mobilize secretions Similar to flutter except has a valve-magnet device to interrupt expiratory flow and thus can be used at any angle.

32. Contraindications for PEP, Acapella and Flutter Pneumothorax Perforated ear drum Hemoptysis Post-operative lung surgery as may lead to air leak or if fresh transplant may break down anastomoses site Severe cardiac disease Esophageal varices Pulmonary embolus

33. Cough Assist Action: Creates mechanical “cough” through the use of high flows at positive and negative pressures. Positive / negative pressures up to 60cm of water Used independently or with caregiver assistance Technique independent Portable Primary use in muscular weakness

34. Airway Clearance Vest Systems(High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation)

35. High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillating Devices Action: Uses pulses of air pressure applied to the chest wall to produce shearing at the air-mucus interface and compression causes repetitive peak expiratory flows to expel mucus like small coughs The chest wall is only compressed The air in the airways only oscillates

36. Contraindications to Vest Therapy Head and/or neck injury which has not been stabilized Active pulmonary hemorrhage Hemodynamic instability

37. Quality Airway Clearance Therapy Should • Clear secretions effectively and consistently • Preserve lung function • Reduce infectious exacerbations • Reduce dependence on antibiotic therapy and other medications • Reduce need for hospitalization and auxiliary medical services • Delay disease progression • Reduce the burden of care • Enhance the quality of life

38. Adverse Effects – Airway Clearance Oxygen desaturation Gastroesophageal reflux Aspiration Hyperventilation Airway obstruction from mobilized secretions Barotrauma Pain and discomfort Guilt from lack of adherence

39. Therapy Adjuncts Antibiotics Bronchodilators Anti-inflammatory drugs Mucolytics Nutrition

40. HFCWO Clearance System Case5 Year Old Girl With Spinal Muscular Atrophy Second PICU Hospitalization in Two Months

41. History Of Illness 5 year old girl with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Fever and oxygen saturations in the high 80’s Discharged from PICU two weeks prior Poor oral intake

42. Clinical Findings X-ray at PMD’s office showed RUL Pneumonia Transferred by PMD to Santa Barbara PICU by ambulance from the office Temperature 38.7 Pulse 158 BP 105/53 Respiratory Rate 29 Chest clear to auscultation bilaterally. No audible wheezing Neuro – Alert and cooperative, extremely thin with muscular atrophy

43. Treatment Issues Social stressors of divorcing parents Parents not recognizing that patient is having difficulties with eating Last authorized Pediatric Pulmonary visit 1/23/05 VEST prescribed Despite multiple attempts to fit VEST, patient reported to mother it was uncomfortable. Mother blamed father for imposing it. Parents feel uncomfortable with CPT due to patients reported discomfort Unable to generate sufficient flow for Flutter and Acapella Patient has nebulizer for albuterol and uses 1992 Coffalator left by DME company

44. Exam Date: 1/19/2006 13:55 Hours PROCEDURE: X-RAY OF CHEST ONE VIEW, PORTABLE COMPARISON:12/3/05. INDICATIONS: Fever, cough. FINDINGS: When compared with the previous study there is now an area of opacity in the right upper lobe. CONCLUSION: Right upper lobe pneumonia.

45. Medical Interventions at Time of Presentation BiPap with supplemental oxygen for sleeping and napping Cefuroxime and Azithromycin Patient receives albuterol and CPT to upper lobe

46. PROCEDURE: X-RAY OF CHEST ONE VIEW, PORTABLE COMPARISON: 1/20/06 INDICATIONS Pneumonia FINDINGS: There is rotation to the right. There is increased opacity in the right hemithorax. There is evidence of shift of the mediastinal contents to the right but this is accentuated due to rotation. The relatively rapid increase in opacity is suspicious for atelectasis. The left lung remains clear. CONCLUSIQN~ Marked increase in parenchymal opacity in right hemithorax with evidence for volume probably representing lobar atelectasis.

47. Medical Interventions at Time of Presentation BiPap with supplemental oxygen for sleeping and napping Cefuroxime and Azithromycin Changed to cefepime on Day 3 Pediatric Hospitalist reviews care and X-ray reports by phone with Pediatric Pulmonologist Coffalator brought from home

48. Exam Date: 1/21/2006 9:41 Hours COMPARISON; 1/20/06 INDICATIONS: Pneumonia FINDINGS: There is rotation to the right. There is increased opacity in the right hemithorax. There is evidence of shift of the mediastinal contents to the right but this is accentuated due to rotation. The relatively rapid increase in opacity is suspicious for atelectasis. The left lung remains clear. CONCLUSION: Marked increase in parenchymal opacity in right hemithorax with evidence for volume loss, probably representing lobar atelectasis.

49. Medical Interventions at Time of Presentation BiPap with supplemental oxygen for sleeping and napping Cefuroxime and Azithromycin Changed to cefepime on Day 3 Coffalator brought from home Custom VEST brought from home and used in conjunction with Coffalator

50. PROCEDURE: X-RAY OP CHEST ONE VIEW, PORTABLE 1/25/06 COMPARISON: 1/23/06 INDICATIONS: PNA FINDINGS: There is patchy right lung infiltrate which is slightly improved since the previous exam with improved volume loss in the right chest. The patient is rotated. Gracile ribs suggest muscular disease. The heart and mediastinum are relatively unremarkable. CONCLUSION: Improving right lung infiltrate with re-expansion of the right lung since the previous exam.