Pulmonary: Interventions: Airway Clearance Techniques

Question 1

Cough

Answer 1

• Patient should be asked to cough in the upright sitting position
• Clears secretions from major central airways

Question 2

Huffing

Answer 2

• Patient inhales
• Patient then forcefully exhales saying huff
• More effective in patients with collapsible airways by preventing the high intra-thoracic pressure that causes pre-mature airway closure

Question 3

Assisted Cough

Answer 3

• The therapists hand becomes the force that generates the cough
• Typically used when the patients muscles are not able to generate enough force

Question 4

Assisted Cough: Technique

Answer 4

• Patient is placed against a hard surface
• Therapist places hand below the subcostal angle
• Patient inhales
• Patient attempts to cough while therapist pushes inward and upward forcing rapid exhalation

Question 5

Tracheal Stimulation

Answer 5

• Patient’s who are not able to cough on command such as infants or spinal cord injury patients

Question 6

Tracheal Stimulation: Technique

Answer 6

• Therapists finger or thumb is placed at the supra sternal notch and a quick inward and downward pressure is placed on the trachea eliciting a cough reflex

Question 7

Endotracheal Suctioning:

Answer 7

• Technique used only when the above techniques do not work

Question 8

Endotracheal Suctioning: Red Flag

Answer 8

Complications associated with suctioning

• Hypoxemia
• Bradycardia or Tachycardia
• Hypotension or hypertension
• Increased intracranial pressure
• Atelectasis
• Tracheal damage
• Infections