Postural drainage Flashcards
When and why would you use postural drainage?
Abnormal breathing sounds such as crackling or wheezing as these are a main indicator that the person is struggling to clear sections from their lungs. If they do not clear this it can lead to their lungs becoming infected and inflamed as a result of diseases such as pneumonia. This could them lead to Atelectasis where the lungs could collapse.
Diagnosis of diseases such as cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis or cavitating lung disease
Explain how you would use positioning to help remove fluid from a patients upper lobes.
To drain the posterior apical segments of the upper lobe you can position the patient to sit forward with their head tilted forward and a towel placed under their knees to support them.
Anterior apical segments can be drained by placing the patient in a semi recumberment position which is where you raise the bed to a 45 degree angle to help the head and torso be positioned upright.
Explain how you would help to drain fluid from the lower lobes.
You can drain the lower lobes by placing the patient in left side lying with the bad lung on top. Also give them a pillow to rest their head and tilt the bed to 30-45 degrees or if not possible place 3-4 pillows under their waist. This will help optimise drainage.
Explain how you would drain the middle lobes of the lungs.
Get the patient to go into left side lying with a quarter back turn onto a pillow and tilt the head 15-30 degrees for optimal treatment.
Define postural drainage.
Postural drainage is the positioning of a patient so gravity will have a maximum effect at draining the Broncho pulmonary segments.
State 3 contraindications of head tipping.
Any recent head or neck injuries
Recent operation on the heart, head or lungs.
Breathlessness
How does postural drainage work?
Postural drainage works by using gravity to move secretions from the lungs to the throat. It does this by placing the part of the lung being drained as high as possible.
How long does postural drainage last?
For 3-5 minutes
How can you further postural drainage?
By using manual therapy techniques such as vibrations, which you can do 5 times during postural drainage for 15 seconds each.
Identify an outcome measure of postural drainage.
You could do a pulmonary function test which is a group of tests which assess how well the lung works by measuring lung volume, lung capacity, rates of flow and gas exchange.
What effects will removing the sputum have on the lungs?
Ventilation will be increased
Perfusion will be increased
If a patient has an infection what is the most appropriate outcome measure and why?
Oxygen saturation as the infection would cause V/Q to be down.
