Rehabilitación respiratoria para pacientes con distrofia muscular de Duchenne en etapas de pérdida de la marcha / Respiratory rehabilitation for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in stages of loss of gait

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is one of the most common neuromuscular diseases. Its evolution with well-defined stages related to motor and functional alterations, allows easily establishing relationships with respiratory function through a simple laboratory assessment including vital capacity (VC) measurements as well as peak cough flows. Without any treatment with respiratory rehabilitation, the main cause of morbidity and mortality is ventilatory failure, secondary to respiratory pump muscles weakness and inefficient cough. The VC plateau is reached during the non-ambulatory stages, generally after 13 years old. Respiratory rehabilitation protocols, including air stacking techniques, manual and mechanical assisted coughing and non-invasive ventilatory support, can effectively addressed the VC decline as well as the decrease in peak cough flows, despite advancing to stages with practically non-existent lung capacity. Non-invasive ventilatory support may be applied after 19 years old, initially at night and then extending it during the day. In this way, survival is prolonged, with good quality of life, avoiding ventilatory failure, endotracheal intubation and tracheostomy. This article proposes staggered interventions for respiratory rehabilitation based on the functional stages expected in the patient with DMD who has lost ambulation.

La distrofia muscular de Duchenne (DMD) es una de las enfermedades neuromusculares más frecuentes. Su curso evolutivo con etapas de declinación en la funcionalidad motora bien definidas, permite fácilmente establecer relaciones con la función respiratoria a través de un laboratorio de evaluación sencilla, básicamente de la capacidad vital (CV) y la capacidad tusígena. Sin intervenciones en rehabilitación respiratoria, la principal causa de morbimortalidad es la insuficiencia ventilatoria secundaria a debilidad de músculos de la bomba respiratoria e ineficiencia de la tos. En las etapas no ambulantes, se alcanza la meseta de la CV, generalmente después de los 13 años, su declinación junto con la disminución de la capacidad tusígena puede ser enfrentada efectivamente con la utilización de protocolos de rehabilitación respiratoria. Estos deben considerar la restitución de la CV con técnicas de insuflación activa o apilamiento de aire, tos asistida manual y mecánica, más soporte ventilatorio no invasivo, inicialmente nocturno después de los 19 años y luego diurno, pese a avanzar a etapas con capacidad pulmonar prácticamente inexistente. De esta manera, se prolonga la sobrevida, con buena calidad de vida, evitando el fallo ventilatorio, eventos de intubación endotraqueal y traqueostomía. Este artículo, hace propuestas escalonadas de intervención en rehabilitación respiratoria basadas en las etapas funcionales esperables en el paciente con DMD que ha perdido la capacidad de marcha.

Cuidados respiratorios de los pacientes con atrofia muscular espinal / Respiratory care approach for patients with spinal muscular atrophy

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a disease of the anterior horn of the spinal cord, which causes muscle weakness that leads to a progressive decrease in vital capacity and diminished cough flows. Respiratory morbidity and mortality are a function of the degree of respiratory and bulbar-innervated muscle. The former can be quantitated by the sequential evaluation of vital capacity to determine the lifetime maximum (plateau) and its subsequent rate of decline, progressing to ventilatory failure. SMA types 1 and 2 benefit from non-invasive respiratory care in early childhood and school age, improving quality and life expectancy. This document synthesizes these recommendations with special reference to interventions guided by stages that include air stacking, assisted cough protocols, preparation for spinal arthrodesis and non-invasive ventilatory support, even in those patients with loss of respiratory autonomy, minimizing the risk tracheostomy. Failure to consider these recommendations in the regular assessment of patients reduces the offer of timely treatments.

La Atrofia Muscular Espinal (AME) es una enfermedad genética del asta anterior de la medula espinal, que cursa con debilidad muscular progresiva. La intensidad y precocidad de la debilidad muscular presenta diferentes grados de afectación de los grupos musculares respiratorios, determinando la meseta en la capacidad vital y progresión a la insuficiencia ventilatoria, como también el compromiso de los músculos inervados bulbares. Los AME tipo 1 y 2, se benefician con cuidados respiratorios no invasivos en la infancia temprana y edad escolar, mejorando la calidad y esperanza de vida. Este documento sintetiza dichas recomendaciones, con especial referencia a intervenciones guiadas por etapas, que incluyan apilamiento de aire, protocolos de tos asistida, preparación para la artrodesis de columna y soporte ventilatorio no invasivo, incluso en aquellos pacientes con pérdida de la autonomía respiratoria, minimizando el riesgo de traqueostomía. La no consideración de estas recomendaciones en la valoración regular de los pacientes resta la oferta de tratamientos oportunos.

Manejo ventilatorio no invasivo de un paciente con enfermedad de Steinert / Non-invasive ventilatory management of a patient with Steinert's disease

Introducción: la enfermedad de Steinert es una enfermedad neuromuscular crónica y progresiva de carácter autosómico dominante. Debido a que puede afectar a los músculos respiratorios, los pacientes se benefician de distintas técnicas de fisioterapia con el fin de evitar complicaciones. Caso clínico: paciente con enfermedad de Steinert que fue tratada en un hospital público de la provincia de Buenos Aires durante un cuadro de insuficiencia respiratoria aguda, de manera no invasiva. Comentarios: esta experiencia muestra que estos pacientes pueden ser tratados de manera no invasiva, fuera de la unidad de cuidados intensivos, y ser controlados ambulatoriamente luego de su egreso pudiendo reinsertarse en la comunidad. Asimismo, cabe destacar que esto fue posible en un hospital público, dentro de un contexto institucional y socioeconómico desfavorable(AU)

Introduction: Steinert's disease is a chronic and progressive autosomal dominant neuromuscular disease. Because this disease can affect respiratory muscles, these patients benefit from different physiotherapy techniques in order to avoid complications. Case presentation: patient with Steinert's disease who was treated in a Public Hospital of the Province of Buenos Aires during an acute respiratory failure with non-invasive way. Comments: This experience shows that these patients can be treated non-invasively, outside the intensive care unit, and be controlled outpatient after discharge, being able to be reinserted in the community. It should also be noted that this was possible in a public hospital, within an unfavorable institutional and socio-economic context(AU)

Alternativas de tratamiento en pacientes con patologías neuromusculares y afecciones respiratorias / Treatment alternatives in patients with neuromuscular pathologies and respiratory diseases

Los avances tecnológicos y los cuidados respiratorios no invasivos en el tratamiento de las afecciones respiratorias en pacientes con patologías neuromusculares han contribuido a una mejor calidad de vida y sobrevida de los pacientes con enfermedades neuromusculares. Además de la capacitación de los pacientes y sus cuidadores para facilitar la estadía de los mismos en el hogar sin depender de instituciones o cuidados de enfermería permanentes y promoviendo la autonomía e integración. El objetivo de este artículo es realizar una revisión de las estrategias y tratamientos brindados a los pacientes con enfermedades neuromusculares y afecciones respiratorias. Resulta esencial que los profesionales de la salud, conozcan todas las opciones terapéuticas posibles para ofrecer a sus pacientes y sus familias, de modo que a medida que la enfermedad avance ellos puedan expresar sus voluntades en forma anticipada y sin apremios derivados de eventos "inesperados". Además es necesario impulsar un cambio de paradigma en la forma en que los profesionales de la salud ven a estos individuos.

Technological advances and proper training for patients with neuromuscular diseases and respiratory problem, including their caregivers, facilitate their stay at home and promote their autonomy and integration, without depending on hospices or permanent nursing care. The objective of this article is to review all the strategies and treatment offered to the patients with neuromuscular diseases. It is essential for health care professionals to know all the therapeutic possibilities offering for their patients and their families, so as the disease progresses it would facilitate the conscious decision-making. Also it is necessary to promote a paradigm shift in the way health professionals approach to individuals with neuromuscular diseases.

Cuidados respiratorios para pacientes con enfermedades neuromusculares / Respiratory care for patients with neuromuscular diseases

Non-invasive respiratory care, combining with ventilatory support, initially at night and then during 24 hours/day, even in patients with minimal vital capacity and the implementation of specifics techniques like mechanically assisted coughing, glossopharyngeal breathing and air stacking, have contributed to a better quality of life and survival of patients with neuromuscular diseases. It is essential for health care professionals to know all the therapeutic possibilities for their patients and their families, so as the disease progresses it would facilitate their decision-making. Technological advances and proper training for patients and caregivers facilitate the stay at home and promote their autonomy and integration, without depending on hospital nor permanent nursing care. In November 2016 it was carried out the Noninvasive Ventilatory Support workshop/meeting with more than 200 physicians, physiotherapists, respiratory therapists and nurses in Montevideo, Uruguay. It was conducted by Dr. John Robert Bach, Medical Director of the Center for Non-Invasive Mechanical Ventilation at Rutgers New Jersey School of Medicine in Newark, New Jersey. Dr Bach is recognized worldwide for his extensive background in studies and publications on noninvasive ventilation and neuromuscular diseases.

Los cuidados respiratorios no invasivos, combinando la asistencia ventilatoria, inicialmente nocturna y luego durante las 24 h del día, incluso en pacientes con capacidad vital mínima, más la implementación de estrategias complementarias de tos asistida, respiración glosofaríngea y apilamiento de aire (air stacking) en forma activa o pasiva han contribuido a una mejor calidad de vida y sobrevida de los pacientes con enfermedades neuromusculares. Resulta esencial que los profesionales de la salud, conozcan todas las opciones terapéuticas al informar a sus pacientes y sus familias, de modo que ellos puedan tomar sus mejores decisiones en la medida que la debilidad e hipoventilación progresen. Los avances tecnológicos, la capacitación de los pacientes y sus cuidadores facilitan su estadía en el hogar sin depender de instituciones o cuidados de enfermería permanentes, promoviendo su autonomía e integración, disminuyendo el riesgo de falla respiratoria conducente a intubación endotraqueal y/o a traqueostomia. Los días 24 y 25 de noviembre del 2016, en Montevideo tuvo lugar un encuentro de capacitación en cuidados respiratorios no invasivos con más de 200 profesionales médicos, kinesiólogos y licenciadas de enfermería, destacando los avances y experiencia consolidad por el Dr. John Bach en más de 30 años de ejercicio profesional en pacientes con síndromes de hipoventilación secundario a enfermedades neuromusculares y otras condiciones que debilitan la bomba respiratoria. Las recomendaciones claves se resumen en este articulo, destacando como estos avances requieren impulsar un cambio de paradigma en la forma en que los profesionales de la salud ven y tratan a estos individuos.

Noninvasive Respiratory Management of Patients With Neuromuscular Disease

This review article describes definitive noninvasive respiratory management of respiratory muscle dysfunction to eliminate need to resort to tracheotomy. In 2010 clinicians from 22 centers in 18 countries reported 1,623 spinal muscular atrophy type 1 (SMA1), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis users of noninvasive ventilatory support (NVS) of whom 760 required it continuously (CNVS). The CNVS sustained their lives by over 3,000 patient-years without resort to indwelling tracheostomy tubes. These centers have now extubated at least 74 consecutive ventilator unweanable patients with DMD, over 95% of CNVS-dependent patients with SMA1, and hundreds of others with advanced neuromuscular disorders (NMDs) without resort to tracheotomy. Two centers reported a 99% success rate at extubating 258 ventilator unweanable patients without resort to tracheotomy. Patients with myopathic or lower motor neuron disorders can be managed noninvasively by up to CNVS, indefinitely, despite having little or no measurable vital capacity, with the use of physical medicine respiratory muscle aids. Ventilator-dependent patients can be decannulated of their tracheostomy tubes.

Soporte respiratorio muscular para evitar el fallo respiratorio y la traqueotomía: ventilación no invasiva y técnicas de tos asistida / Respiratory muscle aids to prevent respiratory failure and tracheotomy: Noninvasive mechanical ventilation and mechanically assisted coughing

El propósito de este artículo es describir el uso de técnicas de soporte respiratorio muscular no invasivo con el fin de prevenir la insuficiencia respiratoria y el fallo ventilatorio, permitiendo la extubación y decanulación de pacientes considerados "imposibles de destetar''. La aplicación de presión en la vía aérea de forma no invasiva durante la inspiración puede proporcionar un soporte ventilatorio continuo en pacientes con poca o inexistente capacidad vital. Así mismo, podrá alcanzarse un pico flujo espiratorio efectivo en pacientes con una disfunción severa de los músculos espiratorios. En abril de 2010 un consenso clínico de 19 centros en 18 países describió 1623 pacientes neuromusculares con atrofia muscular espinal tipo 1, distrofia muscular de Duchenne (DMD) y esclerosis lateral amiotrófica que sobrevivieron utilizando soporte ventilatorio continuo sin necesidad de traqueotomía. De esta serie de pacientes, 76 (47%) precisaron ventilación no invasiva continua en un periodo de seguimiento de 15 años. De estos 76.22 (30.1%) de los enfermos fueron extubados y 35 (4.6%) decanulados en cuatro centros especializados. En estos centros se extuban rutinariamente pacientes con distrofia muscular de Duchenne considerados "imposibles de destetar", de forma que ninguno de sus más de 250 enfermos ha requerido traqueotomía. Esta aproximación en el tratamiento se está abriendo camino en varios centros de España, México y América45.

The purpose of this article is to describe the use of noninvasive inspiratory and expiratory muscle aids to prevent ventilatory insufficiency and failure, and to permit the extubation and tracheostomy tube decannulation in "unweanable" patients. Noninvasive airway pressure aids can provide a continuous support to respiratory ventilation for patients with little or no vital capacity and can provide effective cough flows in patients with severely dysfunctional expiratory muscles. In April 2010, a consensus of clinicians from 19 centers in 18 countries reported the experience of noninvasive ventilation in 1623 patients with spinal muscular atrophy type 1 (SMA1), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), who survived without tracheotomy. The survival was for more than 15 years in 76 patients. Among these 76 patients, 22 (30.1%) were extubated and 35 (4.6%) were decannulated in four specialized centers. In these centers, unweanable DMD patients are routinely extubated; none of over 250 such patients has undergone tracheotomy. This approach is now being introduced into different centers in Spain, Mexico and the United States.

Respiratory Muscle Strength and Cough Capacity in Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

The function of inspiratory muscles is crucial for effective cough as well as expiratory muscles in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). However, there is no report on the correlation between cough and inspiratory muscle strength. To investigate the relationships of voluntary cough capacity, assisted cough techniques, and inspiratory muscle strength as well as expiratory muscle strength in patients with DMD (n=32). The vital capacity (VC), maximum insufflation capacity (MIC), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) were measured. Unassisted peak cough flow (UPCF) and three different techniques of assisted PCF were evaluated. The mean value of MICs (1918 +/- 586 mL) was higher than that of VCs (1474 +/- 632 mL) (p < 0.001). All three assisted cough methods showed significantly higher value than unassisted method (212 +/- 52 L/min) (F = 66.13, p < 0.001). Combined assisted cough technique (both manual and volume assisted PCF; 286 +/- 41 L/min) significantly exceeded manual assisted PCF (MPCF; 246 +/- 49 L/ min) and volume assisted PCF (VPCF; 252 +/- 45 L/min) (F = 66.13, p < 0.001). MIP (34 +/- 13 cmH2O) correlated significantly with both UPCF and all three assisted PCFs as well as MEP (27 +/- 10 cmH2O) (p < 0.001). Both MEP and MIP, which are the markers of respiratory muscle weakness, should be taken into account in the study of cough effectiveness.

New Device for Improving Cough Function: Through Assisting Glottic Function

OBJECTIVE: The patients with glottic dysfunction cannot cough effectively. It is difficult to eliminate pulmonary secretions and to provide lung expansion exercise in those patients. Thus we made a device which substitutes the function of glottis and examines the effectiveness of the external glottic function of the device. METHOD: This new device was made of two parts: connection and control part. Connection part had three ports: patient connection, insufflation and connection port. The insufflation port with one-way valve allows additional air stacking using a manual resuscitation bag after a patients's deep inspiration. Control part had external glottic function by air flow control with button pushing simply. The vital capacity (VC), maximal insufflation capacity (MIC), MIC with device (MICdevice), unassistive peak cough flow (UPCF), assistive peak cough flow (APCF) and assistive peak cough flow with device (APCFdevice) were measured in six patients. RESULTS: In tested patients, four were amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients and two were cervical spinal cord injury patients with tracheostomized. The value of MICdevice or APCFdevice was higher than MIC or APCF in all patients. CONCLUSION: This new device can improve the bronchial toileting by improving cough function and also provide lung expansion exercise effectively in patients with glottic dysfunction.

Assisted Cough and Pulmonary Compliance in Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

The aim of this study was to investigate the factors affecting cough ability, and to compare the assisted cough methods in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). A total seventy-one male patients with DMD were included in the study. The vital capacity (VC) and maximum insufflation capacity (MIC) were measured. The unassisted peak cough flow (UPCF) and three different techniques of assisted peak cough flow were evaluated. UPCF measurements were possible for all 71 subjects. But when performing the three different assisted cough techniques, peak cough flows (PCFs) could be obtained from only 51 subjects. The mean value of MICs (1801+/-780cc) was higher than that of VCs (1502+/-765cc) (p< 0.01). All three assisted cough methods showed a significantly higher value than the unassisted method (F=80.92, p< 0.01). The manual assisted PCF under MIC (MPCFmic) significantly exceeded those produced by manual assisted PCF (MPCF) or PCF under MIC (PCFmic). The positive correlation between the MIC, VC difference (MIC-VC), and the difference between PCFmic and UPCF (PCFmic-UPCF) was seen (r= 0.572, p< 0.01). The preservation of pulmonary compliance is important for the development of an effective cough as well as assisting the compression and expulsive phases. Thus, the clinical importance of the inspiratory phase and pulmonary compliance in assisting a cough should be emphasized.

Analysis of Pulmonary Mechanics and the Factors for Coughing in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pathologic pulmonary mechanics and analyze the factors affecting cough ability in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). METHOD: Thirty-one patients with DMD were investigated. The vital capacity (VC), maximum insufflation capacity (MIC), maximal inspiratory (MIP), and expiratory pressure (MEP) were measured. Unassisted peak cough flow (UPCF) and assisted PCF at three different conditions were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean value of MICs (1, 873 +/- 644 cc) was higher than that of VCs (1, 509 +/- 640 cc). MIP and MEP were 48.8 +/- 21.4% and 29.5 +/- 19.5% of predicted normal value respectively. MIP was correlated with UPCFs as well as MEP. All of three assisted cough methods showed significantly higher value than unassisted method (p<0.01). The manual assisted PCFs at MIC significantly exceeded those produced by manual assisted or PCFs at MIC. The positive correlation between the MIC-VC difference and PCF at MIC-UPCF difference was seen (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Inspiratory muscle strength and the preservation of pulmonary compliance is important for the development of effective cough as well as expiratory muscle power. Thus, the clinical implication of the inspiratory phase in assisting a cough should be emphasized.

The Relationships of Coughing to the Respiratory Muscle Strength and Pulmonary Compliance in Tetraplegic Patients

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the factors influencing the capacity of cough, the relationships between maximal respiratory pressure, lung compliance, capacity of cough, and assisted cough techniques were evaluated in tetraplegics. METHOD: The vital capacity (VC) in seated and supine position, maximum insufflation capacity (MIC), maximum inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory (MEP) pressure in seated position were measured. Unassisted and assisted peak cough flow (PCF) at two different conditions (a volume assisted method by the mechanical insufflation [PCFmic] and the manual assistance by abdominal compression [MPCF]) were evaluated in 44 tetraplegic patients. RESULTS: The mean value of VC in supine was greater than that of seated position (p<0.01). The MICs of the subjects were significantly higher than VCs in a same position (<0.01). Both volume and manual assisted method showed significantly higher PCF than unassisted PCF (p<0.01). MIP (r=0.53) correlated with UPCF as well as MEP (r=0.68), although MEP was better correlated with UPCF. CONCLUSION: Generally the therapists apply manual pressure only to increase capacity of cough, which assist the expulsive phase. The results of this study showed that both inspiratory and expulsive phases should be assisted to enhance the effectiveness of cough.

Digital Analysis of Asthmatic Cough Sounds / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: Cough is a frequent symptom in bronchial asthma. Acoustic digital analysis of cough has been reported using digital signal processing techniques. Differences between asthmatic and control cough sounds are presented. The main purpose of this study was to examine whether overall spectral energy and the visual observation of the fine details of the cough spectrographs, explain the differences in cough between normal subjects and asthmatic patients. METHODS: We presented data from 7 asthmatic patients and 8 non-asthmatic subjects using a new method of acoustic analysis. Cough sound was digitalized at a sampling rate of 5 kHz. Individual coughs were divided into two or three phases, presents the data of RMS (Root Mean Square), duration, RMS in the frequency band. Factor analysis and iogistic regression analysis were performed to identify groups of variables. RESULTS: Duration of cough was longer in asthmatics cough. The number of additional cough sounds showed no difference. RMS of cough in total cough and 2nd phase cough was stronger for asthmatics cough. Energy of frequency band is significantly different in 1,000-1,500 Hz, 1,500-2,000 Hz, 5,000-5,500 Hz, 5,500-6,000 Hz, 6,000-6,500 Hz, 9,000-9,500 Hz at total phase, 0-500 Hz, 1,000-1,500 Hz, 2,000-2,500 Hz, 5,000-5,500 Hz, 6,000-6,500 Hz, 9,000-9,500 Hz at 1st phase. Factor analysis and logistic regression analysis for the two groups provoded a classification table of 96.3% of sensitivity and 86.0% of specificity. CONCLUSION: We provided a new approach to the analysis of cough sounds. Significant differences were found between asthmatic and non-asthmatic cough sounds. It has potential as a tool with which to study the pathophysiology of cough and diagnosis the respiratory disease.