Effect of a pneumatic breathing aid on the minute ventilation of patients with chronic obstructive lung disease and bronchial asthma.

A pneumatic breathing aid is described in which air pressure is used to compress the thorax and abdomen of patients with bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease. Pressures of 40 to 44 mm Hg were applied during the latter half of expiration. A mean decrease in minute ventilation of 14% was recorded 10 minutes after thoracic-abdominal compression in 18 tests. The mean decrease in expiratory volume was 218 in 10 cases. The use of this new pneumatic breathing aid is a preliminary report with the suggestion that similar studies be utilized to increase the ventilatory function of patients who present suggestive evidence of air trapping and alveolar over-distention.