Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 26, 2026
Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs
Published on: October 31, 2025
Assisted autogenic drainage in infants and young children hospitalized with uncomplicated pneumonia, a pilot study
Lieselotte Corten1, Jennifer Jelsma1, Anri Human2
1University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Insights
Assisted autogenic drainage (AAD) appears safe for children hospitalized with pneumonia, showing a trend towards shorter hospital stays and reduced respiratory rates. Further research is needed to confirm its effectiveness compared to standard care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Pneumonia is a major respiratory illness in low-to-middle income countries.
- Airway clearance therapy is used for pediatric pneumonia with retained secretions, but evidence is limited.
- The efficacy and safety of assisted autogenic drainage (AAD) require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) on AAD in children with uncomplicated pneumonia.
- To compare the efficacy and safety of AAD versus standard nursing care.
- To evaluate AAD's impact on hospitalization duration and clinical outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A single-blinded pilot RCT involving 29 hospitalized children with uncomplicated pneumonia.
- Intervention group received standard care plus bi-daily AAD (10-30 min).
- Control group received standard nursing care; primary outcome was hospitalization duration.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in hospitalization duration between groups (7.5 vs 7.0 days).
- A trend towards shorter discharge time in the AAD group (p=0.06).
- No adverse events reported; significant reduction in respiratory rate within the AAD group.
Conclusions:
- AAD may be safe and potentially effective for young children with uncomplicated pneumonia.
- AAD did not prolong hospitalization in this pilot study.
- A larger multicenter RCT is recommended to confirm AAD's efficacy.
Background And Purpose:
Pneumonia is the most important respiratory problem in low-to-middle income countries. Airway clearance therapy continues to be used in children with pneumonia and secretion retention; however, there is lack of evidence to support or reject this treatment. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) on the efficacy and safety of assisted autogenic drainage (AAD) compared to standard nursing care in children hospitalized with uncomplicated pneumonia.
Methods:
A single-blinded pilot RCT was conducted on 29 children (median age 3.5 months, IQR 1.5-9.4) hospitalized with uncomplicated pneumonia. The intervention group received standard nursing care with additional bi-daily AAD, for 10 to 30 min. The control group only received standard nursing care, unless otherwise deemed necessary by the physician or physiotherapist. The primary outcome measure was duration of hospitalization. The secondary outcome measures included days of fever and supplemental oxygen support; respiratory rate (RR) and heart rate adjusted for age; RR and oxygen saturation pre-, post-, and 1-hr post-treatment; oxygen saturation; adverse events; and mortality.
Results:
No difference was found for duration of hospitalization (median 7.5 and 7.0 days for the control and intervention groups, respectively); however, Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a strong tendency towards a shorter time to discharge in the intervention group (p = .06). No significant differences were found for the other outcome measures at time of discharge. No adverse events were reported. Within the intervention group, a significant reduction in RR adjusted for age was found.
Discussion:
As no adverse events were reported, and AAD did not prolong hospitalization; AAD might be considered as safe and effective in young children with uncomplicated pneumonia. However, a larger multicentred RCT is warranted to determine the efficacy of AAD compared to standard nursing care.
More Related Videos
05:39Author Spotlight: A Non-Intubated Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery with Multimodal Analgesia and Sevoflurane Inhalation Anesthesia
Published on: May 26, 2023
04:32Murine Oropharyngeal Aspiration Model of Ventilator-associated and Hospital-acquired Bacterial Pneumonia
Published on: June 28, 2018
Related Concept Videos
01:30Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed....
01:28Pneumonia IV: Management
Bacterial Pneumonia Treatment
For bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics serve as the cornerstone of therapy. Initial treatment often begins with empirical antibiotics, tailored to the anticipated causative organism and adjusted based on culture results. Key antibiotic choices include:
01:30Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment