USE OF PLOTTER VRP1 IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH STEROID-DEPENDENT ASTHMA

We have assessed a new positive expiratory pressure device, the Flutte r VRP1, in 20 patients with moderately severe asthma. Patients were st udied for an initial 1-week 'run-in' period, followed by 2 weeks of th e flutter device in one of which the ball-bearing was removed from the bowl. Peak expiratory flow rates, salbutamol inhaler requirements and visual analogue scores were recorded daily. ease of sputum expectorat ion showed a significant improvement after 6 days of the flutter devic e, but there were no differences in objective measurements of lung fun ction nor in salbutamol use. The device may be useful adjunct to asthm a therapy.