Physiotherapy is a key treatment for patients with bronchiectasis. An evaluation of the parameters indicative of respiratory health in patients treated with two different respiratory physiotherapy techniques (conventional versus Simeox®) would be very useful in choosing physiotherapy treatments for bronchiectasis patients. A systematic review of the literature shows that there are no published studies evaluating the effectiveness of respiratory physiotherapy by analyzing the variation in resistance measured using the forced oscillation technique (FOT) in patients with bronchiectasis. The results of this study would add to those that have examined different physiotherapy techniques and could therefore contribute to the choice of the most appropriate technique for this category of patients.
The trial is being conducted to answer the question: "How do respiratory parameters vary during treatment with two different respiratory physiotherapy techniques: conventional respiratory physiotherapy or that performed using the Simeox device?" Secondary objectives include the measurement of various functional parameters, such as vital signs (heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygenation, blood pressure values) and spirometry values (FEV1, FVC, TLC). The onset of adverse events, the degree of patient tolerance and relief, and respiratory health will also be assessed through the administration of various questionnaires commonly used in clinical practice. Additionally, changes in the quantity of sputum produced will be measured.
Patients with a diagnosis of bronchiectasis not due to cystic fibrosis who are not hospitalized.
Age ≥ 18 years.
Evidence of bronchiectasis in at least one lung lobe from a chest CT scan performed within the 10 years prior to enrollment.
Absence of exacerbations in the 28 days preceding enrollment.
Diagnosis of COPD or bronchial asthma interpreted as primary and predominant diseases compared to bronchiectasis.
Presence of tracheostomy.
History of significant hemoptysis (≥300 mL of blood) or requiring embolization or blood transfusions in the 4 weeks preceding enrollment.
Hemodynamic instability (mean arterial pressure < 65 mmHg, heart rate > 110 bpm).