Rate of oral intake and effects of mechanical insufflation-exsufflation on pulmonary complications in patients with duchenne muscular dystrophy

[Purpose] In Duchenne muscular dystrophy, it increases risks of difficulties of expectoration of secretion, asphyxia, aspiration pneumonia because of decreased cough function. The aim of this study is to prove that manually assisted coughing or mechanical insufflation-exsufflation prevents pulmonary complication and contribute to continue oral intake safely and continue rate of oral intake in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. [Subjects and Methods] We investigated the status of using ventilator, manually assisted coughing or mechanical insufflation-exsufflation, and oral intake or not. In addition, we inspected the frequency of fever (over 37 °C) needed antibiotics from medical records for index of respiratory tract infection, and compared with every period of using mechanical insufflation-exsufflation from respiratory evaluation on cough peak flow. [Results] Fifty-eight patients participated in this study. There were 45 Full-time noninvasive positive pressure ventilation patients. Forty-three in 45 Full-time noninvasive positive pressure ventilation patients (95.6%) avoided tracheostomy and continued noninvasive positive pressure ventilation because they continued oral intake without tracheal intubation due to the respiratory acute exacerbation by asphyxia or aspiration pneumonia. [Conclusion] Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients can continue oral intake safely while preventing pulmonary complication by using manually assisted coughing or mechanical insufflation-exsufflation.