Peripheral mucociliary clearance with high-frequency chest wall compression.

We investigated the effects of high-frequency chest wall compression (HFCWC) on peripheral and tracheal mucus clearance in anesthetized spontaneously breathing dogs. HFCWC was achieved by oscillating the pressure in a thoracic cuff with a piston pump. Regional lung retention of a technetium-99m sulfur colloid aerosol was monitored with a gamma camera. A peripheral mucus clearance index (PMCI) was defined for each region of interest. The tracheal mucus clearance rate (TMCR) was determined by bronchoscopic visualization of marker particle transport. Phase I: In seven dogs, 30 min of HFCWC at 13 Hz with peak cuff pressure (Pcuff) 100-120 cmH2O was found to significantly enhance PMCI in regions immediately under the cuff. (delta PMCI = 24.4 +/- 4.6 in the basal peripheral region.) Phase II: Because of subpleural hemorrhage in phase I, the effect of HFCWC on TMCR at various Pcuff levels was studied in five dogs. The enhancement of TMCR by HFCWC reached a plateau level at Pcuff = 50 cmH2O. Phase III: HFCWC at 13 Hz with Pcuff = 50-60 cmH2O was found to significantly enhance PMCI in five dogs without the consequence of hemorrhage. Correlations were found between the enhancement of PMCI and TMCR by HFCWC. These results demonstrate that HFCWC is effective in enhancing both peripheral and central mucus clearance in dogs and safe when moderate pressures are applied.