Introduction:
Respiratory disorders are prevalent globally. They affect the most vital thing humans need to exist: the ability to breathe freely. Mucous secretion blockage is a common issue in most of these disorders. Patients can be helped by relieving or improving their condition using airway clearance techniques. These simple and effective modalities make a marked difference in clearing secretions and enhancing lung function. All this promotes well-being and quality of life.
What Is Airway Clearance?
Airway clearance is a term used to describe clearing the passage of air, thereby reducing obstruction and infections and improving gas exchange. These techniques can be performed using one or more as part of the routine. It is used to loosen and move the thickened mucus out of the airways for better breathing. They include huffing and coughing. Huffing means breathing slowly through the nose, holding for three seconds, and then exhaling with an open mouth. It is similar to fogging a mirror. Huffing involves tiny breaths followed by a long exhale that moves mucus from smaller airways to larger airways. A deeper breath followed by a short, forceful exhale moves mucus from larger airways and out of the lungs. Then, the individual coughs and clears mucus out of the airway. After coughing, spitting out phlegm and not swallowing is always essential. Remember to clean one’s hands after finishing.
What Are the Different Airway Clearance Techniques?
1. Postural Drainage: One of the first techniques used is gravity force, which helps loosen mucus from airways, which is then huffed or coughed out of the lungs. The benefits of this technique include gravity, which is also essential for lung function. This technique is more effective when used along with other methods. However, many patients have had shortness of breath issues while using this. Also, there are reports that this technique is helpful for patients with more than 30 ml of secretions per day.
2. Manual Techniques :
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Percussion: This is also called chest physical therapy. Another person uses cupped hands and percussion, which are light, rapid strokes. Based on the patient’s response, the strength is increased or decreased. Care is taken not to cause discomfort. This technique is carried out during inspiration and expiration.
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Vibration: The therapist provides chest compressions and fine vibration movements during exhalation.
The advantages of these techniques show an improvement in the flow, which is necessary to clear the airways. This technique is very beneficial in patients with cognitive issues, sedated patients, and unconscious patients.
3. Respiratory Techniques: The active breathing cycle is designed to get air behind mucus, making coughing easier. It does not require complex equipment, making it patient-friendly.
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Breathing Control: One gently breathes in through and relaxes one’s airway
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Chest Expansion Exercise: Inhale deeply and hold one’s breath for three seconds. Gets air behind mucus and loosens, making it move up more easily
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Forced Exhalation Technique: One huff coughs to move mucus from larger airways and finally out of the body.
4. Autogenous Drainage: Controlled breathing in three phases.
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Unstick Phase: Shallow breathing to unstuck mucus from sides of smaller airways
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Collect Phase: One collects mucus by holding the breath for three seconds.
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Evacuate Phase: Move mucus from the airway with a hard huff cough. This technique is complex and requires help to perform correctly.
5. Positive Expiratory Device (PEP): This uses resistance to open airways and get air behind mucus to loosen and move it from more minor to larger airways and then huff or cough. The patient is asked to exhale against the flow at a level that produces positive pressure in the airways. This technique commonly utilizes low-pressure type devices.
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PEP Airway Oscillating Device: This device uses resistance forces to open the airways. Oscillations from the device, such as vibrations, also loosen mucus from the airways. Once the mucus reaches larger airways, the patient can huff or cough out of the airway. Device names include Flutter Valce, Acapella, Lung Flute, PEP bottle, and RC Cornet.
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Uniko TPEP: New generation temporary PEP device. This device delivers pulsed flow, which results in shallow positive pressure. The uniqueness of this device is that it is excellent for drainage of secretions and has reduced air trapping.
6. Mechanical Devices
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Cough Assist: mainly in patients with neuromuscular deficits who have inadequate cough.
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High-Frequency Oscillating Vest: This vest compresses the chest in and out to create airflow and loosen mucus from walls. The oscillations increase the airflow-mucus interaction and reduce the secretions' elasticity. They also improve lung activity.
7. Vacuum Technique: One device that uses this is Free Aspire. It uses expiratory flow to accelerate the secretions so they loosen and reach the upper airways. From here, the patient expels them out.
8. Non-invasive Ventilation: This has been used to improve lung volume. This is mainly used for those with severe disease and muscle weakness. Patients who have issues spitting out the dough or sputum can also use this as adjunct therapy.
9. Combination: A combined approach employing the abovementioned therapies is more commonly used nowadays. As sometimes airway obstruction is caused by more than one cause, using different techniques simultaneously can ease the load.
Remember to clean and disinfect after finishing. Ask the care team for information. When done consistently and routinely, it can help control infections and slow the progress of lung damage. Talk with the team to learn more.
How to incorporate these techniques into daily life :
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Routine: Consistently doing it makes a difference in respiratory health maintenance and clearer airways.
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Working With a Therapist: A personalized plan suitable for a particular disease, taking note of its severity and limitations, should be made and explained well.
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Quit Smoking: Stopping smoking is one of the first steps towards a healthy life and lungs. They also reduce the effectiveness of any exercise or clearance techniques used.
Conclusion:
In the ever-evolving world of technology, healthcare also sees new wonders and promises daily. When clearing mucus blockages seen in the respiratory heart, airway clearance techniques can make a marked difference. From simple breathing exercises to using specialized devices, they empower the individual patient to take active steps in managing their health. It is always advised to consult healthcare providers before starting any technique. Consistently performing these airway clearance techniques can improve respiration and contribute to breathing easy, healthy, and fresh.
