Which nursing interventions are important for the patient who is unable to cough up thick secretions?
Effective (or controlled) coughing has just enough force to loosen and carry mucus through the airways without causing them to narrow and collapse. For people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), this saves energy. Show
What should I know about controlled coughing?COPD can cause your lungs to produce excess mucus, leading to frequent coughing. Not all coughs are effective in clearing excess mucus from the lungs. Explosive or uncontrolled coughing causes airways to collapse and spasm, trapping mucus. The effective, or controlled, cough comes from deep within the lungs and has just enough force to loosen and carry mucus through the airways without causing them to narrow and collapse. Controlled coughing saves energy and therefore, oxygen. Controlled coughing techniqueTo cough effectively:
Tips
Mucus clearing devicesIf you have trouble coughing up secretions, your physician may prescribe a hand-held mucus clearing device. These devices include the Flutter device, the Acapella® (known as the ‘pickle’), the RC Cornet®, Lung Flute (lungflute®), and the Aerobika®. To use these devices, place a mouthpiece in your mouth, seal your lips around it, and take a deep breath using your diaphragm. Breathe out slowly with a moderate force through the device for as long as you can. The increased pressure in the airways and the oscillations created by the device will give you the feeling to cough. When you feel the urge to cough, take a deep breath in, hold for 1-3 seconds and cough to loosen the mucus. Get useful, helpful and relevant health + wellness information
enews More health news + infoWhat is an Assisted Cough?An assisted cough (or cough assist) is a way to help a person who cannot cough well clear the airway of mucous. After some spinal cord injuries the ability to cough is weak or absent. This can be a problem because the person will not be able to clear mucous out of the throat or lungs. Problems with poor coughing can lead to pneumonia. The assisted cough is a way to help prevent this from happening. When Does a Person Need an Assisted Cough?A person who has been trained in this area should do an assisted cough. This can be done during suctioning, in-exsufflation or when:
How is an Assisted Cough Performed?Place the person on his/her back, if possible. If the person is sitting, make sure the wheelchair is locked. If the person is in a reclining wheelchair, recline the chair back and lock it. Place the thumb of each hand together and spread your fingers wide apart, forming what looks like a butterfly. Next, put your butterfly hands on top of the person’s stomach area. Do not put them on top of the ribs or bony areas. Ask the person to take 3 - 5 deep breaths. On the last breath, you will help the person breathe out by pushing in and up, using a firm, steady pressure. Use smooth motion. At the same time you are pushing, ask the person to try to cough as hard as possible. You may repeat this as needed. The person may wish to rest between coughs. Other Assist Cough TechniquesAssist Cough Butterfly Technique:Assist Cough Forearm Technique:Helpful Hints for Performing a Cough Assist
What intervention can the nurse provide to decrease the viscosity of secretions?Increasing the humidity will decrease the viscosity of secretions.
Which interventions can help patients expectorate sputum?Breathing techniques, such as active cycle of breathing, body positioning and manual techniques, including percussion, shaking and vibrations, can also be used to loosen secretions and thus facilitate expectoration.
What are the nursing management on cough?Encourage to ambulate/reposition every two hours. Elevate the head of the bed by propping up on pillows. Gargle/drink warm liquids to sooth the throat. Use PO Pepermints/cough-drops while awake.
What are the nursing management of postural drainage?Postural drainage positions:
Postural drainage utilises the patient position to facilitate the removal of secretions with gravity. In children modified postural drainage positions are used that do not involve any head-down positions. Auscultate the chest to determine the areas of the chest that need drainage.
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