COUGH ASSIST MACHINE

WHAT IS A COUGH ASSIST MACHINE

The Cough Assist Machine helps to clear secretions from the lungs by helping you with your breathing. When you breathe in (inspiration), the machine gives you air (positive pressure) to help expand your lungs. When you blow out (expiration), the machine creates a sucking force (negative pressure) that pulls the air out of your lungs. This rapid change in pressure during the different phases of breathing (inspiration and expiration) helps make your cough stronger and more effective.
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HOW TO USE THE COUGH ASSIST MACHINE.

• Check to make sure that the inspiratory (positive) and the expiratory (negative) pressures are set. Start at +20/-20 and gradually increase to +40/-40.
• Remove the face mask/mouthpiece and hold the tubing firmly against a tight surface.
• Turn on the machine.
• Set the manual/auto switch to manual.
• Toggle the manual control switch between inhale and exhale a few times to ensure that the pressures are correct and that the manometer returns to zero.
• Set the manual/auto switch to auto. The unit will then automatically cycle from the positive to negative pressure and back to zero for the pause.
• Reattach the mask/mouthpiece to the tubing and place it tightly on your face/mouth so that no air leaks out. You may need to use a nose clip to prevent air leakage.
• Turn the machine on.
• As you breathe in, the machine will help by giving a big breath of air. This breath will end at the time set on your machine.
• As you breathe out, the machine will help by sucking the air out. This will help your cough be much stronger and it will help to remove any secretions.
• Take a series of 4-6 breaths continuously from the cough machine and then rest for 20-30 seconds and cough out any secretions that may have loosened up.
• Repeat the series of breaths with a rest 4-6 times or until you no longer have any secretions to cough out.
• As you get used to the pressures during inspiration and expiration, you will want to increase the pressure to the maximum amount that you can tolerate.

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Cough Assist is a non-invasive therapy that safely and consistently removes secretions in patients with an ineffective ability to cough (peak cough flow <270 l/m). 

Typical Cough Assist patients include those with the following conditions: 

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Spinal muscular atrophy
• Muscular dystrophy
• Myasthenia gravis
• Spinal cord injuries
• Post-polio

Cough Assist clears secretions by gradually applying a positive pressure to the airway, then rapidly shifting to negative pressure. The rapid shift in pressure produces a high expiratory flow, simulating a natural cough.

BENEFITS OF COUGH ASSIST

• Removes secretions from the lungs
• Reduces the occurrence of respiratory infections
• Safe, non-invasive alternative to suctioning
• Easy for patients and caregivers to operate

COUGH ASSIST FLEXIBILITY

• Can be used with a face mask, mouthpiece or with an adapter to a patient’s endotracheal or tracheostomy tube
• Approved for home use in adults and children
• Available in automatic and manual models

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COUGH ASSIST MACHINE

Important for daily respiratory care and critical during illness, this life-saving device is something every proactive SMA family needs, regardless of SMA Type. The cough assist can help to mobilize secretions out of the lungs. It provides a deep breath of air and then quickly reverses flow directions to pull the air back out, simulating a cough. This device can dramatically improve airway clearance in a person without an effective cough. The cough assist also helps the lungs develop and grow. 
Source: http://www.smasupply.com/respiratory/cough.htm

If you are thinking that you child or yourself would benefit from a Cough Assist Machine, the Spinal Muscular Atrophy Association of Australia can assist by ‘loaning’ these machines on a permanent basis. 

Please click below to download a copy of the Cough Assist Requirements.