| Objective: To investigate the effect of manual cough assist techniques combined with active cycle of breathing techniques on pulmonary function of patients with pulmonary infection after stroke. Methods: A total of 120 patients with pulmonary infection after stroke were randomly divided into control group and observation group, 60 cases in each group. The patients in two groups were given anti-infective therapy and conventional respiration training. Additionally, the control group was given a mechanical sputum expeller combined with active cycle of breathing techniques training, and the observation group was given manual cough assist techniques combined with active cycle of breathing techniques training. The treatment was continued for 4 weeks. The average daily sputum output and the effective number of daily coughs were recorded before and after treatment. The forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), maximum ventilation per minute (MVV) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were evaluated by intelligent portable over device pulmonary function tester. The levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The dyspnea was evaluated by the modified British Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC), and the quality of life was evaluated by the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Results: Compared to before treatment, the average daily sputum output and the effective number of daily coughs were significantly improved in both groups after treatment, and these in the observation group was better than in the control group (P<0.05). Compared to before treatment, the levels of FVC, FEV1, MVV and PEF were significantly higher in both groups after treatment, and the levels of FVC, FEV1, MVV and PEF in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Compared to before treatment, the levels of CRP, PCT, mMRC and SGRQ scores were significantly lower in both groups and the levels of CRP, PCT, mMRC and SGRQ scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The manual cough assist techniques combined with active cycle of breathing techniques training in the treatment of patients with pulmonary infection after stroke helps to promote sputum expulsion, attenuate the inflammatory response of the patient’s organism, improve the patient’s pulmonary function, and improve the patient’s dyspnoea and quality of life. |
