Airway Clearance Therapies Guideline in April RESPIRATORY CARE

April 27, 2009

The April issue of RESPIRATORY CARE includes a new clinical practice guideline on “Cystic Fibrosis Pulmonary Guidelines: Airway Clearance Therapies” from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

The Foundation established a committee to examine the clinical evidence for airway clearance therapies and provide guidance for their use. The committee recommends that airway clearance be performed on a regular basis in all patients with cystic fibrosis.

Because there is no airway clearance therapy that has been shown to be superior to others, the specific therapy should be individualized. Aerobic exercise is also recommended as an adjunctive therapy for airway clearance.

“The AARC science journal was chosen by the Foundation because of its wide circulation among respiratory therapists, the experts in providing airway clearance therapies,” said Ray Masferrer, managing editor of Respiratory Care.

You can also find the guideline on the journal’s CPGs web page under the heading “Guidelines from Other Organizations.”