Tuning of mechanical cough assistance in neuromuscular patients by optoelectroinc plethysmography

Mechanical Insufflation-Exsufflation (MI-E) is a therapy used by patients with neuromuscular disease and muscle weakness due to central nervous system injury. It decreases episodes of respiratory failure, particularly during upper-respiratory-tract infection, and provides greater success in weaning from mechanical ventilation than do conventional methods [1]. During MI-E it is difficult to assess the respiratory pattern in neuromuscular patients. Optoelectronic plethysmography (OEP) has proven to be a reliable alternative to invasive and/or voluntary manoeuvres to evaluate respiratory pattern [2]. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of a step-by-step increase in insufflation-exsufflation levels on the tolerance, the expired volume, the breathing pattern, and the respiratory function of a sample of patients affect by a neuromuscular disease.