Test of PEPaid, a new device for breathing exercises with positive expiratory pressure

Abstract

Positive expiratory pressure (PEP) devices are used for breathing exercises to improve pulmonary function and airway clearance. The aim of the trial was to test a new device, PEPaid concerning pressure during standardised expiratory flow and compare it to resistors from other devices on the market.

Methods

The four different PEPaid (small to x-large) with holes with inner diameter of 2.5; 3.0; 3.5; and 4.0 mm were tested with a standardised expiratory flow of 10 and 18 l/min. Pressures were also tested to resistors from three alternative PEP devices (PEP/RMT set by Mediplast AB; PiPEP by Koo Medical Equipment; Mini-PEP by Philips) using the same flows.

Results

The small cone (2.5 mm) produced a pressure closest to the resistors of 2 mm, the medium cone (3.0 mm) produced a pressure closest to the resistors of 3 mm, the large cone (3.5 mm) a pressure similar to the 4 mm resistors and the x-large cone similar to the resistors of 4.5 and 5.0 mm during expiratory flow of both 10 and 18 l/min.

Conclusion

PEPaid is a new device which may be used as other available devices. It has advantages as an anatomical mouthpiece, easy to handle and clean and cheap. Disadvantages are that inspiration and expiration are not separated and it is not possible to connect a manometer or oxygen supply.

Keywords:

• Positive expiratory pressure
• breathing exercises
• resistance breathing

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).