Active Cycles of Breathing Technique (ACBT) versus conventional chest physical therapy on airway clearance in bronchiectasis A crossover trial

Bronchiectasis is associated with impairment of the mucociliary escalator and retention of secretions within the bronchial tree, making airway clearance a primary concern in the management of bronchiectasis. The objective of the study was to compare the efficacy of Active Cycles of Breathing Techniques (ACBT) with conventional chest physical therapy as a method of airway clearance in adults with productive bronchiectasis. The study design was a crossover trial carried out in Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, and PKTB & CD Hospital, Mysore, India. Thirty-five adult patients of both genders with productive bronchiectasis were recruited. Patients underwent conventional chest physical therapy or ACBT following postural drainage as airway clearance techniques in a random order on successive days. All patients were compared pre- and post-intervention for the outcome measures. Pulmonary function, wet weight and volume of sputum expectorated and visual analogue score (VAS) for comfort of either technique were measured. Wet sputum weight and volume measured after conventional and ACBT therapies showed no statistically significant difference. The measured value differences of the Pulmonary Function Test suggest no statistically significant difference between the two therapies. VAS score comparison for comfort showed a statistically significant difference with the majority of patients reporting comfort in performing ACBT. ACBT in postural drainage positions is found to be equally effective as conventional chest physical therapy in airway clearance of bronchiectasis and patients have rated ACBT to be more comfortable.