A method of assisting a patient with airway clearance includes providing a positive pressure insufflation gas flow to the patient during an insufflation phase following completion of the insufflation phase causing the patient to enter an expiratory hold condition wherein the patient is prevented from exhaling providing an abdominal thrust to the patient while the patient is in the expiratory hold condition terminating the expiratory hold condition and following termination of the expiratory hold condition providing a negative pressure exsufflation gas flow to the patient during an exsufflation phase.
