Friday 13 April 2012
The Motor Neurone and Neuro Concern charity have received funding, kindly donated by Barclays Wealth to support the purchase of a NIPPY Clearway unit.
The NIPPY Clearway is a "pressure controlled machine which stimulates an involuntary cough response from patients who ordinarily have difficulty clearing their lungs through coughing.''
The NIPPY Clearway achieves this by inflating the lungs, using a positive airway pressure, helping the patient to take a deep breath. This is followed by a rapid change to negative pressure, facilitating a cough and thus assisting the secretion clearance.
This non-invasive method of ventilation can be used for up to 30 minutes in any one hour period. The versatile machine can be set by the therapist to either be operated manually by themselves; or breath or time-triggered - and can therefore be suited to the patient's needs and capabilities.
The device can also be used, over a 15-minute period, to help support the airways by splinting them open, using a pre-determined positive pressure. This further achieves better ventilation in those patients with airways prone to collapse.
This NIPPY Clearway is a hugely important development for patients who are compromised by conditions severely reducing their expiratory flow, which is required to enable them to cough effectively. These conditions may result from an intrinsic lung disease, spinal cord injury or neuro-muscular weakness. Those with the inability to clear their chest may otherwise be predisposed to chest infections and potentially life-threatening deterioration.
The portability of this machine also provides the opportunity for patients to use it within their own home, having received training on how to operate the device. Training is provided within the hospital setting by a qualified physiotherapist.
The NIPPY Clearway has been in use in the community by a patient with Motor Neurone Disease and has potentially prevented hospital admissions as it has provided the patient with the management required to assist with the clearing of their chest.
Barclays Wealth has donated funding towards the NIPPY Clearway for the Motor Neurone and Neuro Concern charities - both registered Guernsey charities.
The Motor Neurone charity was founded in 1982 and is affiliated to the UK charity, with which it liaises for help and advice, but is autonomous with its own rules and regulations.
In 1992 the Neuro Concern charity was also founded by the same committee. Both charities run alongside one another and are dependent on bequest, donations and fund raising for their income.
These charities only operate within the Bailiwick, providing support to both patients and their families. They also provide resources, such as the NIPPY Clearway, which are purchased and loaned free-of-charge for as long as needed, in line with medical recommendations.
Patient Feedback:
Bill Tatnall is using the device at home three times a day ...
Bill Tatnall: "This machine helps to relieve the congestion on the lungs. I use it two to three times a day with a good success rate. After I have used the machine my breathing feels a lot easier and I can manage to move around much more easily. I'm extremely grateful to be able to use the machine three times a day at home. Prior to having the machine at home, I had to travel up to the PEH twice a week to use the machine. This meant I had five days where I struggled to clear the congestion and my breathing was really bad."
The picture on this page shows patient Bill Tatnall using the machine with Sophie Hurford (Respiratory Physiotherapy Assistant) and Derek Le Boutillier, representing the Motor Neurone Charity.
