CHEST PERCUSSION CHEST PERCUSSION

eating to prevent loss of appetite.

POSTURAL DRAINAGE l.What is the function of chest percussion?
‹ .Done 3 times or more per day,
Chest percussion causes the bronchial
depending on patient’s condition.
secretions to release and move from
affected areas in the lungs making it easier 4.What tools are used for chest percussion?

to have a productive cough. It is more

efficient to combine chest percussion with
Vibrating
postural drainage.
percussion
2.What is the purpose of chest percussion?
machine
Nursing Department、Rehebilitation Dept. ‹ Move and clear bronchial secretions
Consulting phone number:
Day: 886-4-7256652 ‹ Increase exercise tolerance
Special number for compliments:
886-4- 7238595 extension 3920 ‹ Makes it easier to cough and expel Silicone
Special number for complaints:
886-4-7238595 extension 3925 percussion cup
bronchial secretions, decreases the
Web site://www.cch.org.tw/nursing/index.html
amount of mucus and decreases
infection rate.
Manual, fingers
3.When is chest percussion done?
CHEST PERCUSSION Patient/family together and
Educator
POSTURAL signature ‹ One hour after meals to prevent
DRAINAGE
positioned like a
-Nursing Education vomiting and aspiration pneumonia. cup
Information
‹ .Do not do within 60 minutes of
 POSTURAL DRAINAGE
5. How is chest percussion done? 6. Caution! 1.What is the function of postural
drainage?
1. Turn the a.Avoid percussion on sternum , spinal By positioning the body in certain ways
patient on side cord , abdomen , female breast areas, and gravity will help drain secretions from
facing nurse, lobes in the lung into large bronchioles for
keeping side rail other important organ areas such as sputum to be expelled. Different positions
up behind
stomach ,liver and kidney. are required for the various areas that
patient.
congestion may occur.
2. Use percussion
tool. An x-ray b.Avoid drainage tube and surgical wound 2.When is postural drainage done?
will show the ‹ Every day, 3-4 times depending on
if the patient has chest tube drainage or has the patient’s condition
position of mucus
secretions in the had open chest surgery. ‹ Before meals and sleep, maintain
lungs and this will each position for 5-15 minutes
be the focus area. ‹ Use humidifier or inhalation before
The percussion
c.Stop percussion if the following postural drainage. This will make the
position is mid thoracic, upper back. The
postural drainage position improves the secretions thinner and postural
symptoms appear: drainage more effective. Chest
effectiveness of chest percussion and will
enhance the patient’s ability to expectorate -Cyanosis (blue color of skin) percussion may be done at the same
(cough) the sputum. time.
-Shortness of breath
3. Use both hands
rhythmically -Rapid, significant change in vital signs 3.What are the contraindications for
and d position postural drainage?
-Blood-tinged sputum when coughing ‹ Please stop if cyanosis, shortness of
upward so
secretions may breath, difficulty breathing, weakness ,
be expelled. or very ill feeling .
Every area ‹ Unstable vital signs.
should have 3-5 minutes of percussion.
 ‹ Do not do postural drainage on
elderly patients or those with heart
disease, empyema , or increased
intracranial pressure
‹ Coughing blood tinged sputum.
Postural drainage may be done but
not chest percussion
5. Postural drainage positions
（The position of the patient will depend
on where the mucus density is greatest.）
a. Lower lobes, greatest mucus density in
middle and lower lobes

4.How is postural drainage done?

Use pillows or large towels to maintain a
comfortable position for the patient.
Encourage deep breathing and coughing to b. Upper lobes, greatest mucus density in
expel secretions.
high part of upper segment.

Principles for chest percussion and postural

drainage:

☉The patient should lie on the side that is

opposite from the side that has the greatest
density of mucus in lung. For example;
Left lobe-----turn patient to right side
Right lobe-----turn patient to left side
（ Increase water intake to dilute
secretions.）
Publication date：2006.05