Respiratory failure & ventilation
High-frequency oscillation improves mucus clearance and airway resistance in mechanically ventilated patients: a randomized clinical trial
Authors' conclusion
In mechanically ventilated patients with excessive airway secretions, the reduction in Raw from baseline was significantly greater in the CHFO group than control group at one-hour and three-hour post-intervention.
Study context
- Population
- Mechanically ventilated ICU patients with excessive airway secretions (sputum volume >150 ml within past 24 hours)median sputum volume 160 ml
- Participants
- 46 participants
- Comparison
- Continuous high-frequency oscillation (CHFO) vs Control
- Primary endpoint
- Change in airway resistance from baseline (ΔRaw: Rpost-intervention - Rbaseline)
- Follow-up
- Each time point (T0, T1 one-hour, T3 three-hours post-intervention)
Methodological detailsprospective, single-centre, April 2023 to March 2024
- Prospective
- Single-centre
- April 2023 to March 2024
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
ΔRaw
| Group | Value | T1 | T3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHFO | mean −2.4 (SD 1.8) cmH₂O/L·s | −2.4 ± 1.8 | −1.8 ± 2.4 |
| Control | mean −0.1 (SD 1.6) cmH₂O/L·s | −0.1 ± 1.6 | −0.5 ± 1.9 |
Value
CHFOmean −2.4 (SD 1.8) cmH₂O/L·s
Controlmean −0.1 (SD 1.6) cmH₂O/L·s
T1
CHFO−2.4 ± 1.8
Control−0.1 ± 1.6
T3
CHFO−1.8 ± 2.4
Control−0.5 ± 1.9
- CHFO vs Control: P < 0.001 — T1
- CHFO vs Control: P < 0.05 — T3
Further findings
| Outcome | CHFO | Control | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Change in Crs from baselineMean, ml/cmH2O | 4.9 (SD 8.8) | 0.3 (SD 4.2) | |
| T1 | 4.9 ± 8.8 | 0.3 ± 4.2 | P < 0.05 |
| T3 | 4.3 ± 9.6 | 1.0 ± 5.8 | P < 0.05 |
| Change in dorsal lung ventilation (electrical impedance tomography) · T1Greater increase with CHFO | P < 0.05 |
- Change in Crs from baseline: value and spread shown are T1; T3 in measures
Oxygenation
- No differences between the two groups at any time point
Original publication
High-frequency oscillation improves mucus clearance and airway resistance in mechanically ventilated patients: a randomized clinical trial. Ann Intensive Care. Published 9 April 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →