Effect of Manual Chest Wall Vibration on Respiratory Function and Chest Tube Duration After Thoracic Surgery

NCT07549555 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: SBU-SBF-BS-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study was conducted to determine the effects of a manual vibration technique applied to the chest wall on the duration of chest tube placement, secretion clearance, and hemodynamic parameters in patients with chest tubes.

Conditions

Thoracic Diseases

Keywords

Thoracic surgery; Chest tubes; Chest wall oscillation; Physical therapy modalities; Postoperative care; Airway Clearance Techniques

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Patient Follow-Up Form

  Changes in respiratory and hemodynamic parameters (including respiratory rate, peripheral oxygen saturation, heart rate, blood pressure), dyspnea severity (Modified Borg Scale), and pain intensity (Visual Numeric Rating Scale) measured before the intervention and at 0, 1, 5, 10, and 15 minutes after the intervention.

  1 day

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Post-Operative Respiratory Status Questionnaire

  1 day

• Questionnaire on manual chest wall vibration therapy

  1 day

Study Arms (2)

Chest Wall Oscillation Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Postoperative patients with chest tubes received manual chest wall vibration in addition to routine nursing care twice daily (morning and evening). Before the intervention, patients were informed and provided written consent. Baseline measurements included dyspnea (Modified Borg Scale), pain (VNRS), vital signs, and arterial blood gas values. The intervention was performed in semi-Fowler's position during the expiratory phase, applying gentle vibrations from lower to upper lobes for approximately 5 minutes (10 breathing cycles). Patients were guided to use slow nasal inhalation and pursed-lip exhalation. Outcomes were reassessed at 3rd, 5th, and 10th minutes after the intervention. The same procedure was repeated in the evening, and all data were recorded.

Procedure: Chest Wall Oscillation

Conventional Control Group

SHAM COMPARATOR

Control group patients were informed about the study and provided written consent. They received only routine nursing care without any additional intervention. At baseline (0 min), Patient Identification and Follow-up Forms were completed. Dyspnea was assessed using the Modified Borg Scale (MBS), pain using the Visual Numeric Rating Scale (VNRS), and vital signs and arterial blood gas values were recorded. Following routine care, measurements of vital signs, blood gases, dyspnea, and pain were repeated at 0, 3, 5, and 10 minutes and documented. Unlike the intervention group, no manual chest wall vibration was applied, and standard clinical follow-up was maintained. The same monitoring and recording procedures were repeated in the evening session.

Behavioral: Conventional Control

Interventions

Chest Wall Oscillation PROCEDURE

Manual chest wall vibration is applied with the patient in a semi-Fowler's position during the expiratory phase of breathing. The practitioner places both hands flat on the chest wall and delivers gentle, rhythmic vibrations, starting from the lower lobes and progressing toward the upper lobes. Patients are instructed to inhale slowly through the nose and exhale using a pursed-lip breathing technique with a 1:2 inspiration-expiration ratio. The procedure is performed for approximately 5 minutes, corresponding to about 10 respiratory cycles, and is typically applied during the patient's rest period following routine care.

Chest Wall Oscillation Group

Conventional Control BEHAVIORAL

Control group patients were informed about the study and provided written consent. They received only routine nursing care, with no additional interventions applied. Baseline measurements were taken at 0 minutes, including dyspnea (MBS), pain (VNRS), vital signs, and arterial blood gas values. Following routine care, the same parameters were reassessed at 3, 5, and 10 minutes and recorded. No manual chest wall vibration was performed; only standard clinical monitoring was maintained. The same assessment protocol was repeated in the evening session.

Conventional Control Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Having undergone thoracic surgery
• Having a chest tube in the postoperative period
• Being hemodynamically stable
• Agreeing to participate in the study
• Being open to communication and cooperation

You may not qualify if:

• Severe cardiac instability
• Patients unable to tolerate the procedure due to neurological or cognitive impairment
• Clinical conditions that would prevent the application of vibration to the chest wall
• Patients diagnosed with pneumonia
• Patients with a newly implanted transvenous or subcutaneous pacemaker

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi: lead

Study Sites (1)

Institute of Health Sciences, Saglik Bilimleri University

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Thoracic Diseases

Interventions

Chest Wall Oscillation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Respiratory Tract Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Respiratory Therapy; Therapeutics

Study Officials

• Sibel YILMAZ SAHİN, Assoc Prof

  Institute of Health Sciences, Saglik Bilimleri University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

• Beyza SU, MSc.

  Institute of Health Sciences, Saglik Bilimleri University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Beyza SU, MSc.

CONTACT

+905347297580; beyza.koseoglu.koseoglu@gmail.com

Sibel YİLMAZ SAHİN, Assoc Prof

CONTACT

+905353303222; sibelyilmaz.sahin@sbu.edu.tr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Conventional control group will have regular nursing cares and outcome assessments will be performed by a investigator who was blinded to group allocation.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: MSc., Nurse

Model Details: Two groups with a conventional control group

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 16, 2026
• First Posted: April 24, 2026
• Study Start: October 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: April 1, 2026
• Study Completion: May 1, 2026
• Last Updated: April 24, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)