Assisted Coughing
Original Editor - George Prudden
Top Contributors - Kim Jackson, George Prudden, Adam Vallely Farrell, Lucinda hampton, Rachael Lowe, Angeliki Chorti, Laura Ritchie and Claire Knott
Description[edit | edit source]
The cough assist helps to clear secretions by applying a positive pressure to fill the lungs, then quickly switching to a negative pressure to produce a high expiratory flow rate and simulate a cough.[1] It is known as ‘manual insufflation-exsufflation’ and can be applied via a mask, mouthpiece, endotracheal or tracheostomy tube.[2]
It is most useful in patients with an ineffective cough due to muscle weakness, in conditions such as muscular dystrophies, myasthenia gravis, SMA, Spinal cord lesions, MND etc.[3][4][5]
In conditions such as spinal cord injury or neuromuscular disease, an individual may require assistance to cough using manual techniques or a medical device.[6] [7]
- Manual assisted cough is the compression of the diaphragm by another person to replace the work of abdominal muscles in order to facilitate a cough.
- A medical device can be used to assist coughing effort by a positive pressure breath followed by a rapid change to negative pressure.[8]
Indication[edit | edit source]
- A patient unable to clear secretions effectively due to muscle weakness
- Peak cough flows of <180 L/min are unlikely to be effective at clearing secretions
- Can be useful in preventing respiratory complications due to secretion retention and poor tidal volumes[9]
Clinical Presentation[edit | edit source]
- Subjectively 'chesty'
- Audible secretions at the mouth
- Crackles heard on auscultation
- Tactile fremitus
- Hypoxemia
- Non-productive cough
- Poor inspiratory efforts
Contraindications[edit | edit source]
Manual assisted cough | Cough assist device |
---|---|
Direct pressure should be avoided to rib fractures or surgical sites. | Undrained pneumothorax
Frank haemoptysis Vomiting Facial fractures CVS instability Raised intracranial pressure (ICP) Recent upper GI surgery Lung abscess |
Precautions[edit | edit source]
Manual assisted cough | Cough assist device |
---|---|
Immediately following surgery
Paralytic ileus Rib fractures Raised ICP Undrained pneumothorax Pain Unstable spine |
Oxygen dependency
Bronchospasm Patient compliance Airway obstruction |
Cautions[edit | edit source]
- Cardiovascular instability
- Coagulopathy
- High Oxygen requirements
- Asthma or air trapping
- Full tummy!
Side Effects[edit | edit source]
- Abdominal distension
- Chest soreness
- Fatigue
- Oxygen desaturation
Setting Up the Cough Assist[edit | edit source]
- Plug in the cough assist and ensure it is on a flat, stable surface
- Set up the circuit – machine, filter, tubing, mask
- Position patient as needed
First, set the expiratory pressure
- Turn on the machine and set to MANUAL
- Occlude the tubing with your gloved hand and push the manual control to EXHALATION
- Observe pressure gauge and adjust to the desired level using the main PRESSURE CONTROL
Next, set the inspiratory pressure
- Inspiratory pressure matches the Expiratory pressure when the INHALE PRESSURE dial is turned to the far right.
- To reduce the inhale pressure, occlude the tubing and push the manual control to the right (inhalation phase)
- Gently turn the inhale pressure dial to the left. When fully to the left, it will be 50% of the set expiratory pressure
Guide to pressures: | |
---|---|
Adult | Up to 40 cmH2O |
Age 5-12 | 20 – 30 cmH2O |
Child<5 | Up to 20cmH2O |
Set the Flow Rate
- The inhale flow rate can be adjusted for comfort and effectiveness. Turned to the left is maximum flow rate and to the right is slower
Finally, set the cycle timing
- The cough assist can be used in Automatic or Manual modes.
- Manual mode is operated by moving the switch from inhale to exhale manually, coordinating with the patient's breathing
- Automatic mode allows the machine to cycle automatically through inspiration, expiration and pause
Technique/Treatment[edit | edit source]
- Gain consent
- Carry out any chest physio techniques prior to cough assist to optimise treatment and position patient as indicated.
- Explain the procedure and accustom patient to mask with machine off.
- Switch the machine on and allow the patient to feel with their hand
- Set pressures low to begin with (10-15cmH2O) to allow the patient to acclimatise
- Choose manual or automatic mode and build up pressures as tolerated to gain adequate secretion removal. Always start with the inspiratory phase
- Oxygen can be entrained via nasal specs or t-piece if needed.
- Encourage patient to cough with the breath out
- 5 breaths in and out at a time followed by 30-60 sec rest. Repeat up to 10 times as needed. Usually, 3-5 ‘cycles’ are enough to produce a cough
- Cough assist is for intermittent use and should not be used for >5 mins
- Observe post-treatment and reassess for improvement
- Document treatment details and effects
Cough Assist Device Troubleshooting[edit | edit source]
Please also see non-invasive ventilation for more information on positive pressure devices
Resources[edit | edit source]
http://www.icid.salisbury.nhs.uk/ClinicalManagement/SpinalInjuries/Pages/AssistedCoughing.aspx
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Finder J. Overview of airway clearance technologies. July 2006. Available at: http://www.rtmagazine.com/issues/ articles/2006-07_06.asp. Accessed August 12, 2007
- ↑ Bach JR. Mechanical insufflation/exsufflation: has it come of age? A commentary. Eur Respir J. 2003;21:385-386.
- ↑ Finder JD, Birnkrant D, Farber CJ, et al. Respiratory care of the patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy: ATS consensus statement. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2004;170:456-465.
- ↑ Chatwin M, Ross E, Hart N, Nickol AH, Polkey MI, Simonds AK. Cough augmentation with mechanical insufflation/exsufflation in patients with neuromuscular weakness. Eur Respir J. 2003;21:502-508.
- ↑ Sancho J, Servera E, Vergara P, Marin J. Mechanical insufflation-exsufflation vs tracheal suctioning via tracheostomy tubes for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2003;82(10750-753.
- ↑ Vianello A, Corrado A, Arcaro G, Gallan F, Ori C, Minuzzo M, Bevilacqua M. Mechanical insufflation-exsufflation improves outcomes for neuromuscular disease in patients with respiratory tract infections. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2005;84:83-88.
- ↑ Garstang SV, Kirshblum SC, Wood KE. Patient preference for in-exsufflation for secretion management with spinal cord injury. J Spinal Cord Med 2000;23(2)80-85.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Harden, B. (2004). Emergency physiotherapy: An on-call survival guide. 1st ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
- ↑ Tzeng AC, Bach JR. Prevention of pulmonary morbidity for patients with neuromuscular disease. Chest. 2000;118:1390-1396.
- ↑ Miske LJ, Hickey EM, Kolb SM, Weiner DJ, Panitch HB. Use of the mechanical in-exsufflator in pediatric patients with neuromuscular disease and impaired cough. Chest. 2004;125:1406-1412.