What is a Flutter Valve? (Acapella, PEP) Airway Clearance | Respiratory Therapy Zone

What is Flutter Valve?? What is an Acapella or PEP device used for? What this video if you want to learn more.

➡️ What is a Flutter Valve?
A flutter valve is a handheld device that is used as a type of breathing therapy. It helps to clear mucus from the lungs as well as make breathing easier and more comfortable. It is a triangularly shaped cylinder and is sometimes green or blue in color. It’s a type of oscillatory PEP therapy that loosens secretions in the lungs and helps the patient to cough them up in order to clear the airways.

➡️ You may have heard it referred to as an Acapella device. As simple as it looks, these devices cause both airway vibrations and positive expiratory pressure (PEP) therapy, so they essentially provide dual therapy for the patient.

➡️ What are the Indications for Using a Flutter Valve?
People who are suffering from chronic bronchitis and cystic fibrosis, among other cardiopulmonary diseases, sometimes produce a large amount of mucus in their airways. This, of course, is a problem that needs to be solved, as it can lead to other issues.

➡️ The indications for using this device include the following:
-- To prevent or reduce atelectasis
-- To help a patient remove secretions and clear the airways
-- To help reduce air trapping
-- To maximize the delivery of aerosolized medications to patients who are receiving bronchial hygiene therapy

➡️How to Use a Flutter Valve Device?
For someone who uses a flutter valve for the first time, you may want to make sure that the resistance dial is set counterclockwise to the lowest frequency setting. This will make it easier to blow into the device. If you want to make it more difficult, you can increase the resistance. Of course, this applies whether you're using the device on yourself, or with a patient.

Before performing a maneuver, you can sit in a chair by keeping your back straight. Keep your elbows resting comfortably on the table. Now, tilt your head slightly upward. This will help to keep the upper airway open wide which allows the air you exhale will be able to flow out smoothly. Then you'll want to take a breath that is deeper than a normal inhalation.

Typically, you should blow out about twice as fast as normal, but not as hard as you can. Repeat this process for approximately 10 breaths. After the final attempt, be sure to cough, in order to remove the secretions from the airways. You can even perform 2–3 “huff” coughs in order to increase secretion removal as needed.

This whole process can be repeated once per hour, depending on the doctor's recommendation. One thing to keep in mind, you must be able to exhale for at least 3–4 seconds while using the device. If you fail to maintain your exhalation for this advised length of time, that means it's too easy. In this case, you need to turn the adjustment dial to increase the resistance. This adjustment will help you or the patient exhale at a lower flowrate by raising the total resistance of the device.

➡️ What are the Parts of a Flutter Valve?
-- Removable mouthpiece
-- Body of the device
-- Expiratory resistance dial
-- One-way inspiratory valve
-- Proximal 22 mm O.D. connection

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🚑MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
Medicine and Respiratory Therapy are continuously changing practices. The information in this video is for educational and entertainment purposes only. For medical advice, please consult with a physician or qualified medical professional.

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⏰TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Intro
0:37 - What is a Flutter Valve?
1:10 - Acapella Device
1:24 - What are the Indications for Using a Flutter Valve?
1:54 - Indications for Using this Device
2:15 - How to Use a Flutter Valve Device?
4:13 - What are the Parts of a Flutter Valve?

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🖼CREDIT FOR MUSIC AND GRAPHICS:
▪ Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds.

#FlutterValve #RespiratoryTherapy #RespiratoryTherapist #RespiratoryTherapySchool

[beverlydemarco]

I TRYED THIS ACAPELLA DEVISE TO TRY TO GET RID OF THE MUCUS, ITS WORKS GREAT AND REALLY HAS HELPED ME TO COUGH UP THE MUCUS SO I CAN BREATHE SO MUCH BETTER, AFTER I USE THIS DEVISE I GO ON MY NEIBULIZER AND DO THREE TREATMENTS A DAY WITH THE ALBUTEROL, IPRATROPIUM SOLUTION . THANKYOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO TO HELP WITH MY COPD.

[nomadsolos]

I have two of these I received from the hospital when I had Pneumonia. You gave me on in depth on the device than I got from the Therapist. Thank You!

[dailydoseofmedicinee]

A flutter valve is a handheld device that is used as a type breathing therapy. It helps to clear mucus from the lungs as well as make breathing easier and more comfortable. It is a triangularly shaped cylinder and is sometimes green or blue in color.👍

[sharan]

After much coughing and getting
so phlegmish, I tried to
get a plane to Belgium !

[heragr]

Can this help someone who is a shallow breather and needs to improve voice projection?

[ohctqli]

Please can you talk about EZPAP and HFCWO

[carmeljohns]

This video was very helpful. It was called a platypus by staff which did not help me to understand its purpose. I eventually quit using it. Big mistake!

[vittos]

Is this safe for people with a recovering pneumothorax?

[maureenhoran]

This comment is so funny i could not stop laughing

[tomasinacovell]

You have know idea what you're talking about, you're just reading!