Aerobika

@wsbme74 Thanks for your helpful post about the aerobika. I wondered how a bunch of plastic parts could wear out in 6-12 months. When I meet with the RT I'll be sure to bring mine along for evaluation. Maybe they can show me how to tell if it's worn out. I certainly can feel the difference between the old and new one, as the old one feels beaten up a bit.

Good tip on the manometer, which might serve as a motivator when using aerobika/nebulizer/compressor.

Did your RT friend say how often to replace the tubing? I've read anywhere from 1 month to 6 months.

I also prefer the Aerobika to the Acapella because of the ease of cleaning and sterilizing it. The cleaning instructions state that it can be autoclaved and so it easily stands up to a baby bottle sterilizer! I clean (in sudsy water), rinse, and sterilize the Aerobika (Chicco 3-in-1 bottle sterilizer is nice and compact) daily and so do not have to fuss with distilled water, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, etc. as one does with the Acapella. The Aerobika is available, new, on eBay for about $40, and costs about twice that amount from a medical supply company, unless your insurance covers the device.

Hi Carol. I just started nebulizing and using the Aerobika for airway clearance. Can you post a link to the Chicco 3 in 1 bottle sterilizer you use? Thanks!

A few people have asked about the Chicco 3 in 1 - link is: https://www.chiccousa.com/shop-our-products/feeding-and-soothing/sterilizers/3-in-1-steam-sterilizer/00007391100070.html. The only drawback is that it does not have a drying cycle, so I try to sanitize, shake excess water off, and air dry overnight.
Also, apparently the newer version of the Chicco 3 in 1 sanitizes in 5 minutes, not in the 9-12 minutes that the older version (which I have) does. Someone asked if this was an adequate amount of time. Here are some recommendations for CF patients who have the highest standards for sanitizing their nebulizing and air clearance products. I believe they must sanitize after each equipment use. The recommendations I saw are for 5 minutes for heat/steam cleaning. I make the assumption that if 5 minutes is adequate for CF patients, then it would be adequate for bronchiectasis/MAC/NTM patients as well.
https://www.cff.org/managing-cf/nebulizer-care-home#:~:text=Heat%20Methods%3A,Use%20an%20electric%20steam%20sterilizer.
https://cystic-fibrosis.com/nebulizer-cleaning

It doesn't look like the baby bottle sterilizer technique is as reliable or effective for our equipment as the boiling method. Please see this guideline on the Lung Matters FB group:
https://selfmattersinstitute.wordpress.com/self-defense/respiratory-equipment/

Sure - it's this one: https://www.chiccousa.com/shop-our-products/feeding-and-soothing/sterilizers/3-in-1-steam-sterilizer/00007391100070.html
It has 3 configurations and so you can use it in the low dome configuration for the aerobika and nebulizing parts. This is a newer version of the product and apparently sanitizes in 5 minutes, while mine requires 9-12 minutes. I'm going to post some information from the Cystic Fibrosis folks, recommending 5 minutes. CF patients require higher levels of sanitization than we do and so if if it sufficient for them, I am assuming it is more that adequate for bronchiectasis/MAC/NTM.
Carol