Effect of Assisted Autogenic Drainage In Children Suffering From Pneumonia

Pneumonia is the number one infectious killer of children under age 5 globally, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) report year 2015, about 9,35,002 children die of pneumonia every year. In the same report it is stated that Pakistan ranks at third among 15 countries contributing to the global burden of child pneumonia. Pneumonia is basically an infection in one or both lungs. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Bacterial pneumonia is the most common type in infants however in children Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is most common cause of Viral Pneumonia. Regarding the pathophysiology of Pneumonia, there is an inflammation in the air sacs of lungs, which are called alveoli, resultantly the alveoli are filled with fluid or pus, making it difficult for the patient to breathe. In order to clear the airways assistive techniques are used besides standard airway management. Autogenic drainage (AD) is an airway clearance technique which utilizes controlled breathing at different lung volumes in order to loosen, mobilize and move secretions in three stages towards the larger central airways.One of the modified form of Autogenic Drainage is Assisted Autogenic Drainage (AAD) which is based upon the principles of Autogenic Drainage and is used in infants and younger patient groups. This technique is performed by placing the hands on the child's chest, the therapist manually increases the expiratory flow in order to achieve the different lung volume breathing.

The chapter 07: vol 1 of book "Physiotherapy Intervention" states that the aim of AAD is to achieve an optimal expiratory flow progressively through all generations of bronchi without causing dynamic airway collapse. In 2007 on " Forced expiratory technique, directed cough and autogenic drainage" and sates that these techniques in combined manner are effective in producing significant results.The direct method of chest percussion was first described by Auenbrugger as reported by the European Respiratory Journal, later it was used globally. The Chochrane Library published a research review on Chest physiotherapy for pneumonia in children in 2012, stating that Autogenic drainage is effective in treating cystic fibrosis (CF). In March 2017 on " The use of assisted autogenic drainage in children with acute and chronic respiratory disease" in population of South Africa which states that AAD is of significance importance while treating chronic respiratory diseases however the efficacy in direct effect on acute respiratory diseases is not studied before.In 1998 conducted a study on the topic of "Alternatives to percussion and postural drainage: A review of mucus clearance therapies: AD, positive expiratory pressure (PEP), Flutter valve, Intrapulmonary percussive ventilation and high frequency with Thira vest." Since late 1990's work has continuously been done on chronic respiratory diseases like Cystic Fibrosis in relation with Autogenic Drainage however regarding Assisted Autogenic Drainage in children suffering from Pneumonia, there is not much work done according to my knowledge. A study conducted in March 2017 in population of South Africa which states that AAD is of significance importance while treating chronic respiratory diseases however the efficacy in direct effect on acute respiratory diseases is not studied before. This study will be going to add Evidence Based Treatment in the practice of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and could be effective treatment of Pneumonia in Children population through Assisted Autogenic Drainage technique of chest clearance. It will be helpful in treating children suffering from Pneumonia by adding literature using an evidence based Chest Physical therapy treatment.

According to the consort guidelines of the assessment of manuscript the only limitation found in the parent study was that the study title included both infants and young children however only infants were actually recruited in the study. The objective of my current study is to determine the effects of Assisted Autogenic Drainage in children with pneumonia.

Inclusion criteria

• class III & IV on pneumonia severity index.
• Both genders are included under study.
• Patients on 2nd & 3rd generation anti-biotic therapy for pneumonia are included.

Exclusion criteria

• Children with Musculoskeletal, Neuromuscular and Cardiovascular co-morbidities.
• Children with diagnosed lobular pneumonia are also excluded.