Using cough assist devices to improve airway responses in neuromuscular disease patients

Can Waveform and Flow Traces From Mechanical Insuflattion:Exsufflation (MI:E) be Used to Identify Laryngeal Responses to MI:E and Thus Optimise Treatment Algorithms?

Observational Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust · NCT05189600

This study is testing if physiotherapists can use cough assist machines to better understand and improve how patients with neuromuscular diseases respond when they cough.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment20 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorRoyal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Academic / other
Locations1 site (London)
Trial IDNCT05189600 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational study aims to determine if physiotherapists can utilize waveform traces from cough assist machines to identify abnormal airway responses in patients with neuromuscular diseases. It will assess how different settings on the cough assist device, particularly breath and cough pressures, influence patient responses. Participants will undergo breathing tests and use a nasal camera to evaluate their airway function while receiving cough assistance. The goal is to provide clinical guidance for optimizing treatment algorithms for these patients.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults aged 18 and older with neuromuscular diseases such as Motor Neurone Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, or Muscular Dystrophy.

Not a fit: Patients with obstructive airway diseases or those unable to comply with the study protocol may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance the effectiveness of cough assist devices, leading to improved respiratory outcomes for patients with neuromuscular diseases.

How similar studies have performed: While this approach is innovative, similar studies have not been widely reported, indicating that this may be a novel exploration in optimizing cough assist device usage.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients with neuromuscular disease(NMD) including but not limited to Motor Neurone Disease (MND), Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Muscular Dystrophy
* Age ≥18

Exclusion Criteria:

* Unable to comply with protocol
* Unable to give informed consent
* Evidence of obstructive airways disease FEV1:FVC \<0.7
* Patients with a history of:
* Un-drained pneumothorax
* Severe bronchospasm
* Head injury with ICP \> 25mmHg
* Severe arterial hypotension
* Trache-oesophageal fistula
* Significant haemoptysis
* Facial fractures
* Vomiting
* Flail segment
* Epistaxis within two weeks

Where this trial is running

London

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Neuromuscular Diseases
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.