Mucus Clearance Flashcards
What is responsible for mucus clearance in healthy people?
The mucociliary escalator
Acute diseases can affect the efficacy of the mucociliary escalator. How are secretions cleared then?
Coughing is the primary mechanism for removing mucus
The huff cough is performed by taking several deep diaphragmatic breaths then squeezing the abdominal and thoracic muscles against a closed glottis and then forcefully coughing
False. The huff cough is performed by patients taking several deep breaths and then contracting their abdominal and thoracic muscles with the glottis and mouth open
Patients affected by neurological muscle disorders or paralysis can benefit from what?
Manual assisted cough
Place hands over diaphragm and have patient breath deeply, then coordinated their exhalation with pressure applied by the caregiver on the diaphragm
This breathing technique utilizes periods of relaxed diaphragmatic breathing followed by several deep breaths followed by huff coughing
Active cycle of breathing
The mechanical cough assist provides negative pressure solely during exhalation in order to assist a patient cough
False. The MIE device provides positive pressure during inhalation and negative pressure during exhalation in order to help stimulate a cough
Mechanical cough assist devices are suitable for patients with
Trauma
Muscular dystrophy
Myasthenia gravis
Poliomyelitis
Spinal cord injury
The cough assist provides positive and negative pressures of up to 30/-30 cm of water
False. The MEI provides positive and negative pressures of up to 60/-60 cm of water
How much inspiratory flow can an MIE device generate?
An MIE device can generate between 3.3 and 10 L/sec
The MIE cannot operate independently and must be manually actuated by an RT
False. The MIE can operate independently and manually
The MIE is not suitable for patients with and ET tube or Tracheostomy tube
False
The MIE can be administered with an oronasal mask, a mouthpiece, and ET tube or a tracheostomy tube
Would the MIE be suitable for patients suffering from active gross hemoptysis?
No.
What are the contraindications for MIE use?
Untreated pneumothorax
Hemodynamic instability
Intercranial pressures greater than 20 mmHg
Recent maxillofacial and skull surgery/trauma
Known or suspected tympanic membrane rupture
Describe bullous emphysema
Bullous emphysema is a condition characterized by damaged alveoli that distend to form large air spaces, especially in the uppermost portions of the lungs
What are hazards of using a cough assist device?
Bullous emphysema, known susceptibility to pneumothorax
Recent barotrauma
Individuals prone to airway closure (COPD)
Percussion, forced exhalation and postural drainage are all examples of what?
A Conventional chest physiotherapy
What is the clinical application for postural drainage?
Excessive sputum production that a patient is having difficulty clearin
v
Palpation-uneven thoracic movement
Percussion-area would sound dull
Xray-could potentially show a consolidation
The patient has secretions in their upper lobes in the anterior segments. What position should they be put in to optimize drainage? Where should the percussions be performed?
Supine
Pectoral region below the clavicle
A patient has secretions in the posterior segments of their upper lobes. How should you position them for optimal drainage? Where should the percussions be performed?
Sitting up, pillow in lap and bending forward as far as possible with arms out in front of them
Upper portion of the back between the shoulder blades
A patient has secretion in the apical segments of their upper lobes. How should they be positioned for chest PT? Where should the percussions be performed?
Sitting upright if possible, supported from the back with pillows, arms forward and hands on knees
Percussions should be performed on either side of the spine slightly above the shoulder blades
A patient has secretions in their lingula. How should they be positioned to optimize drainage? Where should percussions be performed?
They should be positioned in trendelenburg laying on their right side with the left side of their rib cage exposed
Percussions should be performed on the lower left anterior side of the rib cage below the pectoral
A patient has secretions in their right middle lobe. How should they be positioned to optimize drainage? Where should percussions be performed?
Trendelenburg, laying on their left side with right arm positioned out of the way
Percussions should be performed on the lateral middle section of the right side of the ribcage
A patient has secretions in the anterior segments of their lower lobes. What position should they be in to optimize drainage? Where should the percussions be performed?
Trendelenburg, on their right side
Percussions should be performed on the lower lateral portion of the left side of the rib cage
A patient has secretions in the posterior basal segment of the lower lobes. What position should they be in to optimize drainage? Where should the percussions be performed?
Trendelenburg, prone. Tilt thorax according to which side has secretions.
Percussions should be performed on the lower posterior portion of the ribcage
A patient has secretions in the lateral basal segments of the lower lobes. What position should they be in to optimize drainage? Where should the percussions be performed?
Trendelenburg. On the side opposite to the affected region
Percussions should be performed on the lower lateral region of the rib cage
A patient has secretions in the superior segments of the lower lobes. What position should they be in to optimize drainage? Where should the percussions be performed?
Prone, with a pillow under the hips
Percussions should be performed between and slightly below the shoulder blades
T/F: For cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis, the caregiver should perform 1-2 minutes of percussions per affected region.
False. For CF and bronchiectasis the caregiver should provide 5 minutes of percussion for each affected region
How should you guide a patient to breathe during vibrations?
Inhale slowly and deeply. Coordinate patients breathing with vibrations and pressure. Have patient slowly exhale through pursed lips
Following chest PT, what should you instruct the patient to do?
Rest and take diaphragmatic breaths while trying to cough using abdominal muscles to expectorate secretions
T/F: When performing percussion, your hand should be balled up into a fist to ensure efficient energy transference into the patient
False. The percussion should be formed with a cupped hand, as if you were holding water, with the palm facing down
The cupped hand curves to the chest wall and traps a cushion of air to soften the blow]
Sounds kind of like a horse galloping
Which areas should you NOT perform percussion over?
Spine
Sternum
Stomach’
Lower ribs or back to prevent injury to the speel on the left, the liver on the right and the kidneys in the lower back
When should chest PT/PD not be performed?
After meals
When a patient is nauseous
When a patient cannot tolerate percussion or the positioning
Trendelenburg can be extremely uncomfortable for some patients
OPEP devices are designed to
Use oscillatory positive pressure to loosen secretions while performing LET
Why are OPEP devices useful for patients with difficulty clearing secretions?
The airflow oscillations create turbulence with a shearing effect on the secretions adhering to airway walls
Shear forces can also decrease the viscoelastic properties of mucus making it easier to mobilize
T/F: A OPEP can not be used with a tracheostomy tube
False. An OPEP device can be used with a mouthpiece, tracheostomy tube and a oronasal mask (resuscitation mask)
T/F: Patients performing OPEP should take slow, very deep breaths and perform and end inspiratory breath hold for 2-3 seconds prior to exhaling through the device
False. The patient should slowly take a breath slightly greater than tidal volume and perform an end inspiratory breath hold for 2-3 seconds before exhaling through the device
T/F: One cycle with the OPEP consists of 5 breaths through the device
False. One cycle consists of 6-10 breaths through the device
What should follow each cycle of exhalations through the OPEP device?
Huff cough and breathing control
1-3 hugg coughs depending on the fatigue level of the patient
How many cycles should an OPEP treatment consist of?
6-10 cycles
What are the hazards associated with OPEP?
May increase the WOB
Risk of claustrophobia
Minimal risk of gastric distention
What are the advantages of OPEP?
Easy to use
Patients can use them independently
Not time consuming
Cheap
List common OPEP devices
Flutter
Coranet
VPEP
Aerobika
Quake
Acapella
This OPEP device uses a counterweight and a magnet to incorporate a wide range of flow rates
Acapella