Postural Drainage: Method, Indication, Contraindication

What is a Postural Drainage?

Postural Drainage removes mucus from certain parts of the lungs by using gravity and proper positioning to bring the secretions into the throat where it is easier to remove them. The lungs are divided into segments called lobes, the right lung is divided into three lobes (right upper lobe, right middle lobe and right lower lobe) while the left lung has only two lobes (left upper lobe and lower lobe).

Scheduling Treatment

The treatment often works best in the morning. This allows the mucus to be removed that has built up during the night. Sometimes a treatment can be done at night to reduce the need for coughing during sleep. Make sure you wait at least 1-2 hours after eating before starting you treatment. This helps to prevent nausea and or vomiting. CPT just before meals may cause you to become tired and may decrease your appetite.

ANATOMY OF LUNGS

STEPS
1. Use specific positions so the force of gravity can assist in the removal of bronchial secretions from affected lung segments to central airways by means of coughing and suctioning.
2. The patient is positioned so that the diseased area is in a near vertical position, and gravity is used to assist the drainage of specific segment.
3. The positions assumed are determined by the location, severity, and duration of mucous obstruction.
4. The exercises are performed two to three times a day, before meals and bedtime. Each position is done for 3-15 minutes.
5. The procedure should be discontinued if tachycardia, palpitations, dyspnea, or chest occurs. These symptoms may indicate hypoxemia. Discontinue if hemoptysis occurs.
6. Bronchodilators, mucolytics agents, water, or saline may be nebulized and inhaled before postural drainage and chest percussion to reduce bronchospasm, decrease the thickness of mucus and sputum, and combat edema of the bronchial walls, thereby enhancing secretion removal.
7. Perform secretion removal procedures before eating.
8. Make sure the patient is comfortable before the procedure starts and as comfortable as possible he or she assumes each position.
9. Auscultate the chest to determine the areas of needed drainage.
10. Encourage the patient to deep breathe and cough after spending the allotted time in each position.
11. Encourage diaphragmatic breathing throughout postural drainage: this helps widen airways so secretions can be drained.

POSITION

To drain the middle and lower portions of your lungs, you should be positioned with your chest above your head. Possible techniques to achieve this position are:

If a hospital bed is available, put in Trendelenburg position (head lower than feet).
Place 3-5 wood blocks, that are 2 inches by 4 inches, in a stack that is 5 inches high, under the foot of a regular bed. Blocks should have indentations or a 1-inch rim on top so that the bed does not slip.
Stack 18-20 inches of pillow under hips.
Place on a tilt table, with head lower than feet.
Lower head and chest over the side of the bed.
To drain the upper portions of your lungs, you should be in a sitting position at about a 45-degree angle.

Postural drainage therapy is designed to improve the mobilization of bronchial secretions and the matching of ventilation and perfusion and to normalize functional residual capacity (FRC) based on the effects of gravity and external manipulation of the thorax. This includes turning, postural drainage, percussion, vibration, and cough.

TURNING
Turning is the rotation of the body around the longitudinal axis to promote unilateral or bilateral lung expansion and improve arterial oxygenation. Regular turning can be to either side or the prone position, with the bed at any degree of inclination (as indicated and tolerated). Patients may turn themselves or they may turned by the caregiver or by a special bed or device.

POSTURAL DRAINAGE
Postural drainage is the drainage of secretions, by the effect of gravity, from one or more lung segments to the central airways (where they can be removed by cough or mechanical aspiration). Each position consists of placing the target lung segment(s) superior to the carina. Positions should generally be held for 3 to 15 minutes (longer in special situations). Standard positions are modified as the patient’s condition and tolerance warrant.

External Manipulation of the Thorax

A-PERCUSSION

Percussion is also referred to as cupping, clapping, and tapotement. The purpose of percussion is to intermittently apply kinetic energy to the chest wall and lung. This is accomplished by rhythmically striking the thorax with cupped hand or mechanical device directly over the lung segment(s) being drained. No convincing evidence demonstrates the superiority of one method over the other.

B-VIBRATION

Vibration involves the application of a fine tremorous action (manually performed by pressing in the direction that the ribs and soft tissue of the chest move during expiration) over the draining area. No conclusive evidence supports the efficacy of vibration, the superiority of either manual or mechanical methods, or an optimum frequency.

Indications of Postural Drainage

Turning
Inability or reluctance of the patient to change body position. (eg, mechanical ventilation, neuromuscular disease, drug-induced paralysis)
Poor oxygenation associated with the position(eg, unilateral lung disease)
Potential for or presence of atelectasis
Presence of artificial airway
Postural Drainage

Evidence or suggestion of difficulty with secretion clearance
(a)Difficulty clearing secretions with expectorated sputum production greater than 25-30 mL/day (adult)

(b)Evidence or suggestion of retained secretions in the presence of an artificial airway

-Presence of atelectasis caused by or suspected of being caused by mucus plugging.
-Diagnosis of diseases such as cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, or cavitating lung disease
-Presence of foreign body in the airway.
-External Manipulation of the Thorax

(a)Sputum volume or consistency suggesting a need for additional manipulation (eg, percussion and/or vibration) to assist movement of secretions by gravity, in a patient receiving postural drainage

Contraindications of Postural Drainage:

The decision to use postural drainage therapy requires an assessment of potential benefits versus potential risks. Therapy should be provided for no longer than necessary to obtain the desired therapeutic results. Listed contraindications are relative unless marked as absolute.

1 Positioning

All positions are contraindicated for

Intracranial pressure (ICP) > 20 mm Hg(59,60)
Head and neck injury until stabilized
Active hemorrhage with hemodynamic instability
Recent spinal surgery (eg, laminectomy) or acute spinal injury
Acute spinal injury or active hemoptysis
Empyema
Bronchopleural fistula
Pulmonary edema associated with congestive heart failure
Large pleural effusions
Pulmonary embolism
Aged, confused, or anxious patients who do not tolerate position changes
Rib fracture, with or without flail chest surgical wound or healing tissue

Trendelenburg position is contraindicated for

Intracranial pressure (ICP) > 20 mm Hg(59,60) patients in whom increased intracranial pressure is to be avoided (eg, neurosurgery, aneurysms, eye surgery)
Uncontrolled hypertension
Distended abdomen
Esophageal surgery
Recent gross hemoptysis related to recent lung carcinoma treated surgically or with radiation therapy
Uncontrolled airway at risk for aspiration (tube feeding or recent meal)

Reverse Trendelenburg is contraindicated in the presence of hypotension or vasoactive medication

2 External Manipulation of the Thorax
In addition to the contraindications previously listed

subcutaneous emphysema
Recent epidural spinal infusion or spinal anesthesia
Recent skin grafts, or flaps, on the thorax
Burns, open wounds, and skin infections of the thorax
Recently placed transvenous pacemaker or subcutaneous pacemaker (particularly if mechanical devices are to be used)
Suspected pulmonary tuberculosis lung contusion
Bronchospasm
Osteomyelitis of the ribs
Osteoporosis
Coagulopathy
Complaint of chest-wall pain

Complication

Hypoxemia
Increased Intracranial Pressure
Acute Hypotension During Procedure
Pulmonary Hemorrhage
Pain or Injury to Muscles, Ribs, or Spine
Vomiting and Aspiration
Bronchospasm
Dysrhythmias

Limitation of Postural Drainage

1-Presumed effectiveness of PDT and its application may be based more on tradition and anecdotal reports than on scientific evidence. The procedure has been used excessively in patients in whom it is not indicated.

2-Airway clearance may be less than optimal in patients with ineffective cough.
3-Optimal positioning is difficult in critically ill patients.

Assessment of outcome:

These represent individual criteria that indicate a positive response to therapy (and support the continuation of therapy). Not all criteria are required to justify a continuation of therapy (eg, a ventilated patient may not have sputum production > 30 mL/day, but have an improvement in breath sounds, chest x-ray, or increased compliance or decreased resistance).

1. CHANGE IN SPUTUM PRODUCTION
   If sputum production in an optimally hydrated patient is less than 25 mL/day with PDT the procedure is not justified. Some patients have productive coughs with sputum production from 15 to 30 mL/day (occasionally as high as 70 or 100 mL/day) without postural drainage. If postural drainage does not increase sputum in a patient who produces > 30 mL/day of sputum without postural drainage, the continuation of the therapy is not indicated. Because sputum production is affected by systemic hydration, apparently ineffective PDT probably should be continued for at least 24 hours after optimal hydration has been judged to be present.

2. CHANGE IN BREATH SOUNDS AND LUNG FIELDS ARE DRAINED
With effective therapy, breath sounds may ‘worsen’ following the therapy as secretions move into the larger airways and increase rhonchi. An increase in adventitious breath sounds can be a marked improvement over absent or diminished breath sounds. Note any effect that coughing may have on breath sounds. One of the favorable effects of coughing is a clearing of adventitious breath sounds.

3 PATIENT SUBJECTIVE RESPONSE TO THERAPY
The caregiver should ask a patient how he or she feels before, during, and after therapy. Feelings of pain, discomfort, shortness of breath, dizziness, and nausea should be considered in decisions to modify or stop therapy. Easier clearance of secretions and increased volume of secretions during and after treatments support continuation.

4. CHANGES IN VITAL SIGNS
Moderate changes in respiratory rate and/or pulse rate are expected. Bradycardia, tachycardia, an increase in the irregularity of the pulse, or a fall or dramatic increase in blood pressure are indications for stopping therapy.

5. CHANGES IN X-RAYS
Resolution or improvement of atelectasis may be slow or dramatic.

6. CHANGES IN ARERIAL BLOOD GAS VALUE AND OXYGEN SATURATION
Oxygenation should improve as atelectasis resolves.

7. CHANGE IN VENTILATOR VARIABLE
Resolution of atelectasis and plugging reduces resistance and increases compliance.

Conclusion

Postural drainage uses gravity with various techniques of Chest Physiotherapy to remove mucus from your lungs. It is helpful for treating symptoms of cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, and bronchiectasis.

So it may be an important treatment technique if you require to remove mucus from your lungs. As with any treatment, it’s best to consult with your doctor before starting postural drainage.

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