Lung vibration is a chest physiotherapy technique used to facilitate sputum mobilization and improve airway clearance; however, its effectiveness may vary due to therapist-dependent factors. This study developed a lung vibration device and evaluated its effectiveness in patients with sputum retention. Twenty-five patients, aged ≥18 years with sputum retention, including those with bronchiectasis, pneumonia, and COPD-related conditions, participated in a randomized crossover trial and received two single interventions in random order: a conventional intervention (manual percussion, manual vibration, and suction) and an experimental intervention (manual vibration replaced by the device). Sputum volume and quality, rating of perceived dyspnea (RPD), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), cardiovascular dynamics, respiratory rate, and body temperature were assessed before and immediately after each intervention. Sputum volume was significantly higher following the experimental intervention compared with the conventional intervention (p = 0.010). No significant between-intervention differences were observed in sputum quality, RPD, SpO2, cardiovascular parameters, respiratory rate, or body temperature (all p > 0.05). No potential adverse effects were reported. These findings suggest that the lung vibration device enhances sputum clearance in the short term, with no immediate adverse physiological effects observed, and may serve as a practical alternative to manual vibration.
Padkao et al. (Sat,) studied this question.