Secretion management
Cough up effectively. Clear airways.
Many patients with chronic respiratory diseases who are ventilated outside the hospital can only cough up the daily lung secretions with great effort. This may be due to the volume or viscosity of the secretions, muscle weakness resulting in ineffective coughing, or the need for constant assistance to mobilize secretions. Accumulation of secretions in the lungs increases the risk of respiratory infections, hospitalization, and impaired lung function. Secretion management can maintain or improve the patient's ventilatory status.