In which order should airway clearance therapies be administered?

The most appropriate order for administering airway clearance therapies begins with postural drainage and percussion. This technique involves positioning the patient in specific ways to enhance drainage of secretions from the lungs, and percussion helps to loosen mucus in the airways, making it easier to expel.

Once the secretions are adequately mobilized, verbal coaching for coughing can help encourage the patient to actively clear the airway. Coughing is a natural reflex that helps expel the mucous, and providing guidance can optimize this process.

Following this, oropharyngeal suctioning can be performed to clear any secretions that may remain in the throat and airway, ensuring that the airway is clear and reducing the risk of aspiration.

Lastly, nasal tracheal suctioning is typically reserved for situations where other methods have not effectively cleared the airway, and it is often used when deeper suctioning is indicated for secretions in the lower airways.

Administering the therapies in this order optimizes the effectiveness of each approach, enhancing patient safety and maximizing airway clearance.