Respiratory Therapy in COPD Exacerbations
Respiratory Therapy in COPD Exacerbations
The purpose of this study is to determine effectiveness, feasibility and safety/tolerance of
 Respiratory Therapy in hospitalized patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive
 pulmonary disease.
Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AE-COPD) is defined as an event
 in the natural course of the disease characterized by a change in the patient's usual
 symptoms (dyspnea, cough and/or sputum) that may not be explained by the daily variations and
 requires a change in regular medication.

 Because AE-COPD result in impairment of both pulmonary and respiratory muscle functions, as
 well as an increasing impact on costs, priority should be given to interventions to slow the
 progression of the disease, prevention of exacerbations and reduce the risk of comorbidity.

 Chest physiotherapy is often used in hospitalized patients with AE-COPD with the aim of
 favoring the removal of secretions and thus to improve the ventilation perfusion (V/Q), and
 therefore the function lung. The limited scientific evidence has determined that their use is
 controversial and not routinely recommended in clinical practice guidelines. Current clinical
 guidelines in the treatment of COPD are unable to rule on the application of respiratory
 therapy during exacerbations, since there is little scientific evidence of its benefits in
 the short and long term.
Hospitalized patients with acute exacerbation of COPD.

 Inclusion Criteria:

 -  age over 18 years,

 -  hospitalized patients and

 -  acute exacerbation of COPD.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Previous history of any chronic respiratory disease and

 -  not to have performed any kind of general or respiratory training in the previous 3
 months.