International Journal of Health Sciences & Research (www.ijhsr.org) 323 Vol.5; Issue: 9; September 2015 International Journal of Health Sciences and Research www.ijhsr.org ISSN: 2249-9571 Original Research Article Autogenic Drainage versus Acapella for Airway Clearance in Patients with Bronchiectasis: Randomized Crossover Trial Saurabh Semwal 1 , Shambhovi Mitra 2 , S.B. Singh 3 1 Post Graduate Student, 2 Assistant Professor, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences, Sector C, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 3 Chest Specialist, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, New Delhi Corresponding Author: Shambhovi Mitra Received: 20/07/2015 Revised: 14/08/2015 Accepted: 25/08/2015 ABSTRACT Airway clearance techniques are the mainstay in treatment of patients with bronchiectasis. The objective of the study was to compare the efficacy of Autogenic drainage versus Acapella in patients with bronchiectasis. A total of thirty patients with stable bronchiectasis were recruited from National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, New Delhi. Patients were administered Acapella or Autogenic Drainage clearance technique in a random order and the other technique was given to the patient after a wash out period of 3 hours. All patients were compared at baseline, immediate and 10 minutes after intervention for the outcome measures. (Sputum volume, sputum wet weight, modified Borg’s Scale for dyspnea, Respiratory rate, Oxygen Saturation, Peak expiratory flow rate) .Visual analogue scale(VAS) was used to measure the patients’ perception of comfort of performing either of the technique. Sputum wet weight and volume, dyspnea, Oxygen Saturation; Peak Expiratory flow did not show statistically significant difference between the two treatment techniques. VAS score comparison for comfort showed a statistically significant difference with the majority of patients reporting comfort in performing Acapella. Acapella was found to be equally effective as Autogenic Drainage in sputum clearance in patients with bronchiectasis. Keywords: Acapella, Autogenic Drainage, sputum, sputum, PEFR, SpO 2 , Bronchiectasis. INTRODUCTION Bronchiectasis is a disease characterized by impaired mucociliary apparatus along with abnormal distention of bronchi. The impaired mucociliary apparatus leads to the vicious cycle of inflammation and increased mucus production. [1,2] Airway clearance techniques form the mainstay of treatment along with antibiotics for the disease. Various techniques like postural drainage with vibration, active cycle of breathing technique, autogenic drainage have been used in patients with bronchiectasis. Recently devices for respiratory physiotherapy have emerged as alternatives which are less time-consuming and offer greater independence to the patient with chronic lung disease. The devices of respiratory physiotherapy are: Positive Expiratory Pressure, High Frequency Chest