Airway clearance therapy

[1] Several respiratory diseases cause the normal mucociliary clearance mechanism to become impaired resulting in a build-up of mucus which obstructs breathing, and also affects the cough reflex.

[3] Respiratory therapists make recommendations and give guidance for appropriate airway clearance therapies.

Airway clearance therapy uses different airway clearance techniques (ACTs) in a number of respiratory disorders including, cystic fibrosis, bronchitis, bronchiectasis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to maintain respiratory health, and prevent the damaging consequences of inflammation.

Huffing needs to be carried out in a sitting position with the chin raised a little, and the mouth remaining open.

Breathing out is forceful and slow which helps to move the mucus from the smaller to the larger airways.

A normal urge to cough at this point is repressed, and the breathing pattern is repeated a few times.

Breathing is deep and may use a breath-hold of three seconds to move the air into the smaller airways, and reach behind the mucus.

A review of the studies that have been conducted concluded that there is no strong evidence that autogenic drainage is better than other airway clearance techniques.

Intrapulmonary percussive ventilators (IPVs) are machines which deliver short bursts of air through a mouthpiece to help to clear mucus.

This effect is provided by devices that consist of a mask or a mouthpiece in which a resistance is applied only on the expiration phase.