Acapella

Acapella

General

• Acapella devices consist of positive pressures generated as the patient exhales through a fixed orifice/valve to create back pressure in the airways
• Comes in two colors:
  • Green is for patients able to maintain an expiratory flow of 15 LPM or greater for 3 seconds
  • Blue is recommended for patients capable of less than 15 LPM for 3 seconds

Indications

• Improve the mobilization of bronchial secretions
• Improve the ventilation/ perfusion
• Normalize functional residual capacity (FRC) based on vibration and cough

Usage:

• Instruct patient to perform diaphragmatic breathing and inspiring at a larger than normal tidal volume
• Instruct patient to actively exhale (not forcefully) for 3-4 seconds
• Exhalation phase should be 3-4 seconds, if it is shorter than expected, then rotate dial clockwise until the patient can