Respiratory Physiotherapy Performed by Simeox In Patients With Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

Evaluation of Short-term Effect of Respiratory Physiotherapy Performed by Simeox on Lung Function in Patients With Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia - Randomised Cross-over Interventional Study

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is characterized by impaired airway clearance and mucus stagnation. This results in recurrent upper and lower respiratory tract infections often leading to chronic inflammation and, if not treated early and properly, to irreversible functional and structural changes of the respiratory tract. As there is no causal treatment of PCD yet, airway clearance techniques (ACT) provide fundamental care for these patients.

Simeox is a new airway clearance device, recently developed by the French company PhysioAssist. This technology is based on pneumatic vibrations generated by the device itself. Vibrations are induced by rapidly alternating between atmospheric and negative pressure as the patient exhales, providing the most effective clearance of mucus from the lungs. Vibrations of different intensity and frequency are known to alter the rheological properties of mucus in the airways, whilst the negative pressure during exhalation helps to mobilise and drain the mucus to the central bronchi.

Although there have not yet been any evidence based papers published clarifying the effect of Simeox specifically in patients with PCD, using up-to-date information, experience, and positive feedback from our patients, we assume that there could be a significant benefit for the effectiveness of ACT.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Simeox; Device: PARI O PEP

Detailed Description

In this study the effectiveness of ACT will be evaluated based on the short-term effect(s) of respiratory physiotherapy with Simeox on changes in lung function and thoracic expansibility paediatric patients with PCD.

An interventional randomised non-inferiority crossover trial will be conducted in Motol University Hospital; the project was developed by the multidisciplinary team (MDT) of the Division of Paediatric Pulmonology of the Department of Paediatrics, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Motol University Hospital; and the Department of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague and Motol University Hospital.

Eligible patients will be randomly assigned into 2 arms - "Simeox-first group" and "Pari-O-PEP first" group. Randomisation will be done using computer generated code for each patient. The protocol will include 3 study visits - K0, K1 and K2 planned 3 months apart. After 6 months (second visit - K1), each patient will be switched to the other interventional group (crossed over). The first session (K0) includes an initial lung function assessment using spirometry, nitrogen-Multiple Breath Washout test (N2-MBW), Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT), 6 Minute Walk Test (6 MWT), respiratory amplitudes (RA), and a theoretical introduction to therapy with the Simeox device. The second (K1) and third (K2) sessions will be interventional, including a respiratory physiotherapy session in between each measurement, excluding 6 MWT, which will be measured just once per session.

According to randomisation criteria, participants will initially undergo either physiotherapist-administered 20-minute ACT session using the Simeox device or 30-minute therapy with PARI O-PEP. In accordance with the rules for crossover study design, each patient will undergo therapy with both ACT devices, ideally within six-month duration of the study. These interventions will take place in between each measurement (spirometry, MBW, EIT, RA) during the second (K1) and the third (K2) session.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Czechia
  • Praha 5
    • Praha, Praha 5, Czechia, 150 06
      • Motol University Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 4 years to 18 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis of PCD confirmed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis of ciliary ultrastructure showing clear structural axonemal defect and/or positive genetic testing for one (autosomal dominant) or two (autosomal recesive) PCD-causing mutations;
• age range 4 - 18 years;
• established chest physiotherapy with PARI O PEP

Exclusion Criteria:

• inability to undergo the assessment and intervention
• noncompliance and/or nonadherence

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Simeox first; Patients who will undergo Simeox intervention first. After three months cross-over to PARI O PEP intervention.	Device: Simeox; A respiratory physiotherapy session with the Simeox device will be performed in accordance with the official PhysioAssist recommendations, which are; clearance of the upper airways before the physiotherapy session; correct position of the mouthpiece in patient's mouth, with the lips placed on the thinnest part of the mouthpiece and the tongue positioned underneath the mouthpiece; slow nasal inhalation without too much recruitment of the inspiratory residual volume (IRV) and an exhalation with real deflation of the thorax; step-by-step shifting of the patient's tidal volume towards the expiratory residual volume (ERV), in order to target the most distal regions of the lungs; comfortable, relaxed sitting position with straightened spine; controlled cough, which will be encouraged only when it is productive
Active Comparator: PARI O PEP first; Patients who will undergo PARI O PEP intervention first. After three months cross-over to Simeox intervention.	Device: PARI O PEP; ACT with PARI O-PEP will be performed in an upright sitting position, using four positions of the device for the most effective clearance of mucus from the lungs. These positions will be: horizontal;; low;; transition of the device from the low position to the horizontal position;; upside down. The mouthpiece will be placed between the patient's teeth as per standard procedure, and enclosed properly within the lips. Patients will perform slow and deep inhalation via the nose, then hold their breath for about 1 to 2 seconds at the end of inhalation. Exhalation will be performed slowly and completely into the PARI O-PEP through the patient's mouth. At the end of the session, the patient will perform "huffing" with the PARI O-PEP device in the upside down position in order to maintain open airways, and, if possible, expectoration sputum.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Lung Clearance Index	Ventilation Inhomogenity Assesment	Through study completion, an average of 1 year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Forced Residual Capacity (FRC)	Volume of air present in the lungs at the end of passive expiration, in Litres [L].	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Change in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)	Volume of air that can forcibly be blown out after full inspiration, in Litres [L]	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Change in Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1)	Volume of air exhaled in the first second during forced exhalation after full inspiration, in Litres per second [L/s]	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Change in Maximal Expiratory Flow (MEF25-75)	Volume of air where the certain amount (25-75%) of Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) remains to be exhaled, in Litres [L]	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Change in Acinar airway inhomogeneity (Sacin)	MBW indices reflecting ventilation inhomogeneity in the acinar airway region, in Litres [L]	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Change in Conductive airway inhomogeneity (Scond)	MBW indices reflecting ventilation inhomogeneity in the conductive airway region, in Litres [L]	Through study completion, an average of 1 year

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Global Inhomogeneity (GI) Index	Electrical Impedance Tomography parameter evaluating real-time spatial distribution of ventilation	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Change in chest expansion measurement	Chest expanson at axillary, mesosternal (mammary) and xiphosternal levels	Through study completion, an average of 1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital, Motol
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Anna Chmelarova, MD, Department of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, 2nd Faculty of Medicine

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 15, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 30, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): February 28, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 22, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 8, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): March 11, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 2, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 27, 2023
• Last Verified: February 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: spirometry; respiratory physiotherapy; electric impedance tomography; lung function testing; airway clearance techniques; primary ciliary dyskinesia; ventilation inhomogeneity; nitrogen multiple breath washout test
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Congenital Abnormalities; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; Movement Disorders; Abnormalities, Multiple; Ciliopathies; Dyskinesias; Ciliary Motility Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: PCD-375.2/20

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No