Module 2: Breathing with

Additional measures

Respiratory support, the right techniques for coughing and pulmonary ventilation give less discomfort with mucus in the airways. Additional measures might be necessary with a considerable amount of or sticky mucus. Here are some examples.

Humidification with respiratory support

Some machines have an integrated humidifier, whilst others require an external one. You can read more about this in the chapter on ventilation support.

Inhalations

Inhalations can be performed via a separate nebuliser connected to a respiratory assistance machine’s tubing circuit. Medications administered via inhalation aim to treat conditions in the airways or change the stickiness of the mucus. If you use inhalation medications that open up the airways and loosen up mucus, it might be beneficial to start with inhalations before using other the techniques to aid deep breathing and effective coughing. If you use steroids or inhaled antibiotics, you might benefit from inhaling these after coughing to ensure that the lungs and airways are mucus-free.

Suction 

Suction might be necessary, especially for those with a tracheostomy, as it is important to completely expel the mucus. You can read more about this in the chapter on tracheostomies.