
What is PEP therapy?
What is PEP therapy? PEP (positive expiratory pressure) therapy helps open and move mucus out of your lungs. You breathe into a small handheld device that has a valve. You breathe out against a set amount of pressure. The pressure helps hold your airways open. It also allows air to get behind and loosen mucus.
What does respiratory therapy stand for?
What is Respiratory Therapy? Respiratory therapy or care is a type of health care that involves evaluating and diagnosing patients with respiratory issues and providing treatment, management, and ongoing assessments to improve breathing. Any patient of any age may need respiratory therapy.
How hard is the respiratory therapy program?
You would have to look very hard to find someone that’ll argue the fact that respiratory therapy students get stressed out easily during school. There is literally pressure from day one about making good grades, finishing all your projects and homework, and showing up for clinical rotations on time.
Is respiratory therapy a growing field?
Respiratory therapy is a fast-growing field that requires compassion, patience and attention to detail as well as an aptitude for science and mathematics. Job Description Respiratory therapists treat people with conditions such as asthma, pneumonia and emphysema, as well as assisting with care of cardiovascular disease and traumatic injuries to ...
What is the purpose of positive expiratory pressure therapy?
Physiology – PEP therapy is believed to temporarily increase functional residual capacity (FRC) and tidal volume. The positive pressure is thought to assist in splinting the airways open to reduce airway collapsibility and promote more homogenous expiratory airflow.
How does PEP device work?
The PEP device creates pressure in the lungs and keeps your airways from closing. The air flowing through the PEP device helps move the mucus into the larger airway. A Huff cough will help move the mucus out of the airways.
Does PEP prevent atelectasis?
The application of a positive expiratory pressure (PEP) is an effective prevention method for atelectasis, that has been demonstrated only in patients under mechanical ventilation.
How does PEP mask work?
How does PEP work? When you breathe out through the PEP mask with one of the resistors in place pressure builds up in your lungs. This helps to keep the airways open wide and also allows air to get behind sputum and help move it upwards. Each of the different coloured PEP mask resistors has a hole in it.
What is the purpose of postural drainage?
With postural drainage, you get into a position that helps drain fluid out of the lungs. It may help: Treat or prevent an infection. Make breathing easier.
Do Opep devices work for asthma?
Girard and Terki (7) found significant improvements in forced expiratory volume in one second, forced vital capacity and peak expiratory flow with daily OPEP use in patients with asthma. OPEP was also demonstrated to be effective in clearing mucus from the airways in panbronchiolitis (8).
Why is collateral ventilation important?
Collateral ventilation has been a major determinant in the effectiveness of nonsurgical attempts to reduce lung volumes in patients with emphysema or those with giant bullae, thereby improving their quality of life (71–73).
How does PEP increase FRC?
A theory is that PEP devices are able to improve clearance by increasing gas pressure behind mucus via collateral ventilation and a temporary increase in functional residual capacity (FRC). The FRC level is gradually increased over the 12 to 15 breaths.
Why do we use incentive spirometer?
Your health care provider may recommend that you use an incentive spirometer after surgery or when you have a lung illness, such as pneumonia. The spirometer is a device used to help you keep your lungs healthy. Using the incentive spirometer teaches you how to take slow deep breaths.
Do lung expansion devices work?
According to the research studies the current devices of respiratory physiotherapy are effective in improving pulmonary function, lung oxygenation, clearing mucus from bronchi and making feasible better compliance of patients in treatment.
Why does vibratory PEP work so well as an airway clearance therapy?
The PEP component is thought to encourage airflow behind secretions, and the oscillation induces vibrations within the airway wall to displace secretions into the airway lumen; repeated accelerations of expiratory airflow favour movement of secretions from the peripheral to the central airways (App 1998; Tambascio 2011 ...
What is lung expansion therapy?
Lung expansion therapy includes a variety of respiratory care modalities designed to increase patient's lung volume. Historically, intermittent positive pressure breathing, or IPPB, was used extensively for this purpose.
What Steps Do I Need to Follow For Pep Therapy?
Your healthcare provider will set your device to the amount of pressure needed. He will tell you to repeat these steps at least 5 times to make 1 c...
How Do I Clean My Pep device?
Clean mucus and moisture out of your device after every use. A more complete cleaning depends on the type of device you use. Ask your healthcare pr...
When Should I Contact My Healthcare Provider?
1. You are not able to move mucus after several cycles. 2. You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.
How does PEP therapy work?
The therapy, which is administered by breathing through a special device helps: Air get behind the mucus. Move mucus from lung and airway walls. To hold the airways open for longer. Increased geriatric population coupled with higher incidences of chronic conditions drive the PEP devices market growth.
What is a PEP device?
Two types of airway clearance devices are the positive expiratory pressure device (PEP) and the oscillating positive pressure device. A PEP device increases resistance to expiratory airflow to promote mucus clearance by preventing airway closure and increasing collateral ventilation. Examples of this type of device include the TheraPEP®, ...
What is the most commonly prescribed airway clearance therapy?
One of the most frequently prescribed airway clearance therapy (ACT) options for patients with chronic lung conditions or decreased lung volumes are positive expiratory pressure therapy (PEP) devices .
How does lung volume increase?
lung volume increase is achieved by altering breathing pattern, thereby increasing VT and decreasing respiratory frequency, which is due to an increase in muscle activity of inspiratory and expiratory muscles. Improved gas exchange is a result of breathing during a prolonged period with normalized lung volumes. 2.
What pressure is used during PEP?
During PEP therapy, the patient exhales against a fixed-orifice resistor, generating pressures during expiration that usually range from 10 to 20 cm H2O. (14-24) PEP does not require a pressurized external gas source . The therapy, which is administered by breathing through a special device helps: Air get behind the mucus.
Does PEP increase FRC?
A progressively temporary increase in FRC has been found to be proportionally correlated when increasing PEP. An increase in FRC is attained by alteration of breathing pattern that is a product of a decrease in expiratory flow and an increase in expiratory time leading to exhalation of smaller volumes.
What is a PEP mask?
Positive Expiratory Pressure, or PEP, is a small device that a patient exhales into, using a mask. PEP is also called PEP Therapy, PEP Mask or TheraPEP.
How to use a PEP mask?
Instructions to Use PEP. Have your child sit up straight with elbows resting on a table. Have your child take slightly deeper breaths than normal for 1 to 2 minutes. Have him / her take a large, steady breath (just slightly more then a normal breath) through the mask attached to PEP.
How to get rid of mucus in a child's nose?
Follow this with 1 (or more) regular cough to clear the mucus from the large airways. Have your child rest for 1 to 2 minutes while doing the controlled breathing technique.
How does a PEP device help your lungs?
Using the PEP device should help you: Increase or maintain your inhaled lung volume (amount of air you breathe in on a single breath); Improve how well you rid your lungs of mucus; and.
How does PEP work?
Using the PEP device should help you: 1 Increase or maintain your inhaled lung volume (amount of air you breathe in on a single breath); 2 Improve how well you rid your lungs of mucus; and 3 Possibly avoid serious lung infection, especially after surgery or a procedure.
Why do you need to clean a PEP device?
Cleaning your PEP device. Cleaning your PEP device properly is important to decrease the risk of infection. The PEP device should be cleaned every night at bedtime. That way when you wake up in the morning it will be clean and dry and ready for use.
Who decides what level the PEP dial should be set?
If this is the first time you will use your PEP device, the respiratory therapist or nurse will decide on what level the dial should be set. With each use, make sure the dial is on this setting.
Can you wash a PEP device in the hospital?
When in the hospital, use a plastic basin and handsoap to clean it. When discharged, a dish detergent can be used. The PEP device is also dishwasher safe. It is important to rinse your PEP device thoroughly with warm water. Be sure to air dry the PEP device on a paper towel.
Why do we take PEP?
PEP can be taken after a potential exposure in order to help prevent HIV transmission. The article below will focus on what exactly PEP is, when and how to take it, and what to expect.
When to use PEP?
PEP is taken in emergency situations when exposure to HIV may have occurred. When taken as directed, it’s effective at preventing HIV transmission. Some examples of situations where PEP may be used include after: engaging in consensual sex, especially without a condom or other barrier method or if a barrier method breaks.
What is PEP for HIV?
HIV is a virus that affects the immune system. There are several ways to prevent contracting HIV. One prevention method is called postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), which is a combination of antiretroviral medications. PEP can be taken after a potential exposure in order ...
How long after PEP can you get HIV?
Researchers noted that contracting HIV after PEP was associated with factors like starting PEP more than 72 hours after exposure or not taking PEP as directed. A 2016 analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) looked at studies of PEP that covered different groups: Men who have sex with men.
How many people got HIV after PEP?
In 15 studies, which included exposures through sex, sexual assault, and injection drug use, only 19 out of 2,209 people got HIV after PEP. Just 1 case was attributed to PEP not working while the other 18 were associated with other behaviors or not taking PEP as directed.
How long does it take to take PEP?
PEP medications are taken daily for a total of 28 days (4 weeks). They’re given in a pill format. It’s important to take PEP around the same time each day. This is so the level of antiretroviral drugs in the body remains constant during treatment.
Can you take PEP if you have HIV?
A healthcare professional will also request rapid HIV testing before prescribing PEP. PEP isn’t recommended for people that are HIV-positive, and it’s estimated that 1 in 7 people that have HIV don’t know that they have it.
What is PEP in medicine?
PEP consists of three anti-HIV drugs. Two of these medications are from a class of drugs known as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and are usually taken together in a single pill. A third medication – from either the integrase inhibitor or protease inhibitor class of drugs – is taken separately.
What is the first line of treatment for PEP?
Alternative third agents. BASHH guidelines state that while raltegravir – an integrase inhibitor – is the first-line treatment in PEP, various boosted protease inhibitors may also be used if raltegravir is judged by the clinician to be unsuitable (for example, if there are concerns about intolerance).
How long does it take for side effects to go away after taking PEP?
Side-effects often lessen, become manageable, or go away completely after a few days or weeks. Another point to bear in mind is that most of these data on side-effects come from HIV-positive people taking the same medications over many years as HIV ...
Is PEP easier to take than it used to be?
PEP is therefore easier to take than it used to be. This page outlines the possible side-effects of the currently recommended combination of PEP medications, as well as the side-effects of other medications that may be used as alternatives. Side-effects usually appear soon after starting PEP as the body adjusts to the new medications.
Can PEP be taken together?
For example, taken together, one medicine may increase the side-effects of another medicine.

Introduction
Mechanism of Pep
- The increase in pressure is transmitted to airways creating back pressure stenting them during exhalation , preventing premature airway closure and reducing gas trapping . 1. Promotes collateral ventilation, allowing pressure to build up distal to the obstruction(collateral ventilation is a phenomenon found in the human lungs where alveolar structures are ventilated t…
Types of Pep
- Two types of airway clearance devices are the positive expiratory pressure device (PEP) and the oscillating positive pressure device. 1. A PEP device increases resistance to expiratory airflow to promote mucus clearance by preventing airway closure and increasing collateral ventilation. 1. Examples of this type of device include the TheraPEP®, Resistex PEP Mask, and the Pari RC Cor…
Indications For Pep
- Acute and chronic respiratory failurefor reasons of surgery
- Neurological or musculoskeletal dysfunctioneg MND
- Old ageand immobility
- To increase lung volume by increasing FRC and VT
Relative Contraindications For Pep
- Untreated pneumothorax
- Intracranial pressure > 20mm Hg
- Active haemoptysis
- Recent trauma or surgery to skull, face, mouth, or oesophagus
Physiology of Pep
- Increasing lung volumeFRC and VT
- A progressively temporary increase in FRC has been found to be proportionally correlated when increasing PEP
- An increase in FRC is attained by alteration of breathing pattern that is a product of a decrease in expiratory flow and an increase in expiratory time leading to exhalation of smaller volumes.
- Increasing lung volumeFRC and VT
- A progressively temporary increase in FRC has been found to be proportionally correlated when increasing PEP
- An increase in FRC is attained by alteration of breathing pattern that is a product of a decrease in expiratory flow and an increase in expiratory time leading to exhalation of smaller volumes.
- lung volume increase is achieved by altering breathing pattern, thereby increasing VT and decreasing respiratory frequency, which is due to an increase in muscle activity of inspiratory and expirat...
Different Pep Devices
- !. OscPEP - applied with a threshold-dependent mechanism with a high density steel "movable ball" that is interposed on a funnel or circular cone between the exhalation tract of the device causing a vibration that is transmitted to the lungs, examples are: 1. Aerobika OPEP - Monaghan Medical’s Aerobika oscillating positive expiratory pressure (OPEP) device assists mucociliary cle…
Instructions For The Use of Pep Devices
- Physiotherapist will set device to the amount of pressure needed (Can be used as an adjunct to Active Cycle of Breathing Technique) Intructions Repeat below steps at least 5 times to make 1 cycle. Repeat the following steps as many times as directed to complete 1 cycle: Loosen mucus: 1. Sit up with your back straight and your chin slightly up. This position allows your throat to be …
Scientific Literature About Pep
- Following meta-analyses of the effects of PEP versus other airway clearance techniques on lung function and patient preference, a cochrane review demonstrated that there was a significant reduction...