Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31309166›Full record

ArticleThe South African journal of physiotherapy2019

Airway clearance therapy in acute paediatric respiratory illness: A state-of-the-art review.

Brenda M Morrow

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The South African journal of physiotherapy, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
12citing papers in PubMed
3.3field-weighted citation impact, top 7% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

12 citing papers in PubMed, 31 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
  2. Provision of physiotherapy services for children in intensive care units in Uganda: A descriptive study.The Southern African journal of critical care : the official journal of the Critical Care Society · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Refractory Atelectasis and Response to Chest Physiotherapy.Journal of pediatric intensive care · 2023
    Article
  5. Refractory Atelectasis and Response to Chest Physiotherapy.Journal of pediatric intensive care · 2022
    Article
  6. Immediate effects of manual hyperinflation on cardiorespiratory function and sputum clearance in mechanically ventilated pediatric patients: A randomized crossover trial.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liao · 2022
    Article
  7. Article
  8. Review
  9. Review
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

1 author at 1 institution in 1 country.

Brenda M MorrowDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5193-918X
University of Cape Town · ZA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite unclear evidence of effectiveness or safety, airway clearance therapy (ACT) is frequently performed in infants and children with acute pulmonary disease.

objectivesThe aim of this review was to critically synthesise published evidence, expert opinion and pathophysiological principles to describe the indications, effects, precautions and application of commonly used ACT modalities for managing infants and children with acute pulmonary disease.

methodA comprehensive narrative review of published literature was conducted. Articles describing paediatric populations were prioritised, but adult and animal studies were also considered where appropriate.

resultsThere is a dearth of high-level evidence supporting the use of ACT in acutely ill infants and children. Conversely, studies have highlighted the lack of effect of different modalities for a variety of conditions, and in some cases serious associated complications have been reported.Airway clearance therapy may be considered when there is retention of pulmonary secretions, and the consequential airway obstruction impacts either acutely on respiratory mechanics and gaseous exchange and/or has the potential for long-term adverse

conclusionAirway clearance therapy should not be performed routinely in children admitted to hospital with acute respiratory conditions. Patients should be clinically assessed and treatment planned according to individual presentation, in those with signs and symptoms that are potentially amenable to ACT. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This review can serve as a guide for physiotherapists in the respiratory management of children with acute respiratory illness, as well as identifying areas for clinical research.

Indexed as

acuteairway clearance therapychest physiotherapylower respiratory tract infectionpaediatricphysical therapy

Identifiers

PMID31309166
PMCPMC6620562
OpenAlexW2955206453

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.