Chest / Lungs Home Care

Acapella (Oscillating PEP)

What is Acapella?

Acapella is a small hand-held device that helps move mucus out of your lungs. Keeping mucus out of your lungs will:

Improve your health.
Keep you from getting sick.

Using Acapella correctly is very important. It should be used with huff coughs during treatment.

How does Acapella work?

Vibrations help to loosen and dislodge mucus. Significant positive pressure, or PEP, helps air to get around and behind trapped mucus. PEP also helps to “splint” the airways open. This allows the airflow to move the mucus up to the large airways where it can be huffed or coughed out.

How is Acapella done?

Here are the steps you need to do when using your Acapella:

Sit up straight in a chair.
Rest your elbows on a table.
Take slightly deeper breaths than normal for 1-2 minutes.
Put the mouthpiece lightly in your mouth. Make sure you have a tight seal around the mouthpiece.
Breathe in slowly, taking a larger than normal breath.
Hold this breath for 2 – 3 seconds.
Breathe out through the device longer and a little faster than normal.
Repeat this 15 times. Keep your mouthpiece in your mouth for all 15 breaths.
Do 2 – 3 huff coughs.
Cough to get rid of mucus.

Repeat the entire process for 6 cycles or a maximum of 30 minutes.

How do I clean my Acapella?

After each use:

Open your Acapella
Allow your Acapella to air dry on a clean paper towel

Every day:

Disassemble and clean with liquid dish soap, followed with a sterile water rinse

Sterilize

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation recommends disinfecting your Acapella by using alcohol bath for 5 minutes or place on top rack of the dishwasher
Inspect your Acapella to ensure proper function.