ACT Series, 5; Autogenic Drainage
As we continue our deep dive into airway clearance our second breathing technique for airway clearance is autogenic drainage (AD). This technique was developed in 1967 by Jean Chevaillier and was first limited to only asthma before later being applied or rather approved for use in other airway diseases associated with overproduction of mucus in the bronchial tree. Autogenic drainage uses controlled breathing to manipulate airflow ventilation throughout the airways to collect and move mucus within the airways. This recruitment of mucus using airflow requires a huge amount of patient cooperation, coordination, self evaluation or self awareness of mucus, and understanding of the technique for AD to be effective for the patient. This is why this technique is not recommended for patients under the age of eight years of age. It also reinforces the need for proper training by a licensed respiratory therapist and should not be undertaken by simply reading about the technique on the internet or being coached by a non-professional. Autogenic drainage in it’s basic form means self drainage. It’s aims are to recruit the movement of mucus from the lower airways to the upper airways using different breathing frequencies without causing airway collapse that can happen during forced expiratory pressures of other airway clearance techniques.
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