Effect of intrapulmonary percussion ventilation on mucus in COPD patients

<bold>Background</bold> Intrapulmonary percussion ventilation (IPV) is an airway clearance technique which can results in an increased mucus clearance (Riffard et al., 2013). <bold>The aim</bold> of this study is to investigate the impact of treatment with intra-pulmonary Percussive Ventilation (IPV) MODEL IPV-2C (Sentec) in COPD patients, on mucus volume and mucus count, measured by functional respiratory imaging (FRI). <bold>Methods</bold> COPD patients will receive IPV session, 3 times a week for 30-minutes during 4 weeks. At baseline (V1) and at the end of the intervention period (V2), HRCT scans are taken at Total Lung Capacity (TLC) and Functional Residual Capacity (FRC). FRI endpoints are mucus volume and mucus count. <bold>Results</bold> 9 COPD (5M/4F) patients of 70(7) years with FEV1 37(14)% predicted were enrolled. After one month treatment with IPV, mucus volume and mucus count decreased (p=.066 and p=.092). A significant correlation was found between mucus volume (V1) and difference in volume (V1-V2) (p=.008). Same correlation was found between mucus count (V1) versus count (V1-V2) (p=.009). A typical case is depicted in figure 1. <fig><object-id>erj;64/suppl_68/PA4357/F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><graphic></graphic></fig> <bold>Conclusions</bold> One month treatment with IPV in patients with severe to very severe COPD, led to decrease of mucus volume and mucus count. Patients with increased mucus volume and count at baseline, displayed higher decrease after the treatment period.