Abstract
Impaired airway clearance leads to pulmonary complications, such as pneumonia, atelectasis, asphyxia, respiratory failure, and death. High-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) provides a safe, effective and well-tolerated therapy for removal of excessive airway secretions. We describe a 68-year-old man with hypoxic encephalopathy who was extubated successfully with the assistance of HFCWO which improved airway secretion clearance and prevented atelectasis. HFCWO therapy was stopped 5 days after extubation. Unfortunately, the patient died of hypoxemia as a result of suspected retention of airway secretions 2 weeks after extubation. HFCWO may be of use in the short term for facilitating extubation in patients with hypoxic encephalopathy complicated with ineffective cough. However, the long-term effect and safety of HFCWO with these patients should be further investigated. (Thorac Med 2012; 27: 105-111)
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