I am a peds nurse and my specialty is pulmonology (I also do PICU/Stepdown, med/surg).
I was wondering if I can ask some nurses who have COPD patients if they are ever prescribed airway clearance treatments, vibrating vest, flutter devices, etc. I was talking with a friend whose mom is struggling with COPD right now, mostly the clearance and movement of mucous. She's older and not very strong. I asked the friend if she had heard of any of these therapies and she hadn't. I was surprised at this, because I have seen how they make a difference in a lot of my patients with mucous clearance issues, all with different varieties of lung diseases. Would they be too harsh for a COPDer or do they just not work, or do you see success with these therapies?
Edited: not asking for personal advice-- this is a curiosity question. Just in case there was any doubt about my intentions. ;-)
This is great info! I wonder why the acapella is not used more widely in my unit with the kids who are able to use it? It sounds like it works great for many different mucous situations.
I could see why the vest would not be a good choice for frail, older people, or anyone with implants. I'm sure pacemakers are included in that category, too. I have seen them used with implanted ports. They have a large special foam pad placed around it.
Yes there are foam pads in the shape of a donut which can be used for ports and pegs. But, there are times when they have the needle in the port during IV therapy which can be painful if jiggled around especially in teenage girls.
The Acapella is expensive and hospital departments on a budget struggle to keep them stocked. The same with the Incentive Spirometer. Some give them away like candy without a charge generated in the hospital. Big cost and they go away never to be ordered again.
The CF population do take their equipment very seriously since they rely on it everyday. They live with multiple clinic appointments and PFTs with education hammered into them. Asthma education is still in its infancy. Many with asthma will wander throughout most of their childhood and adult life without having any concrete information provided and numerous doctors failing them.
anon456, BSN, RN
3 Articles; 1,144 Posts
This is great info! I wonder why the acapella is not used more widely in my unit with the kids who are able to use it? It sounds like it works great for many different mucous situations.
I could see why the vest would not be a good choice for frail, older people, or anyone with implants. I'm sure pacemakers are included in that category, too. I have seen them used with implanted ports. They have a large special foam pad placed around it.