Vibration therapy reduces CPAP need in a prospective randomised controlled trial

Background: Increased mucus production is a common phenomena following ventilatory support, which might increase morbidity. In order to reduce airway obstruction we tested the effect of vibration therapy on the duration of ventilatory support. Methodology: We conducted a randomised control study in a level IIIC NICU (28 beds) of a university hospital. Compared were nonactive techniques to vibration therapy in preterm infants with a gestational age of 26 - 33 weeks. All infants were ventilated or receive respiratory support by nasal CPAP. Results: 104 infants were enrolled, 49 in the vibration group and 55 in the control group. Demographic characters were in the vibration group compared to control group mean birth weight 1274 (± 335) gram vs. 1240 (± 351) gram and mean gestational age 29.8 (± 1.3) weeks vs. 29.9 (± 1.4) weeks. Vibration therapy did not reduce ventilation time (100 vs. 80 hours, p = 0.88) however duration of CPAP decreases significant (57 vs 157 hours, p < 0.018). Conclusion: Vibration therapy reduced Mean Airway Pressure, oxygen requirements and CPAP need in preterm infants, but did not reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation.