Physiotherapy for end stage COPD

What is the evidence for the inclusion of physiotherapy within the palliative team for patients with COPD?

Palliative care

* Opioids should be used when appropriate to palliate breathlessness in patients with end-stage COPD which is unresponsive to other medical therapy.
* Benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, major tranquillisers and oxygen should also be used when appropriate for breathlessness in patients with end stage COPD unresponsive to other medical therapy.
* Patients with end stage COPD and their family and carers should have access to the full range of services offered by multidisciplinary palliative care teams, including admission to hospices.

Thank you for your reply- very helpful

Hi
What are the symtoms of end stage of COPD?

I am not cardiorespiratory physio at all. sorry. basic question.

Recently, one patient was admitted with pneumonia a few days ago.
Past medical history:emphysema, COAD.
he has brethlessness for years. He has been using home oxygen.
not usually cough, but cough occasionally now. moist, non-productive cough.
not sputm usually, but sputum 1/5 cup now white/sometimes yellow(according to him) but, he couldnt cough up any sputum today. couldnt check that.
wheezy sound usually in expiration, now same.
smoking history for 40 years but quit 20 years ago.
SPO2=96% with 3L O2 currently,
ascultation; lt lingunal lobe and rt lower lobe crackles
chest x ray; havent arrived yet.
afebrile. vital signs were okay.
using ventolin.
premobility; using 4 wheel frame. able to walk oaround home with oxygen(limited by SOB)

I gave him ACBT and tried marching on the spot but he was able to perform only about 15 seconds due to breathlessness and stopped. I think it was prabably too much for him. (a nursing staff reported that he lost appetite after physio. didnt have lunch much yesterday. today, he was unwell. havent treated him today. only advised to cough hourly to remove his sputum if possible) His huffs were not effective and he has poor chest expansion. Because his huffing is not efficient, i am thinking to educate how to do huffing again and if the sputum is too thick to cough up, thinking to start to use nebuliser. also ACBT with (just sidelying) postural drainage.

I think that his problem will be SOB, crackles in two lobes, increased sputum but not able to remove himself, poor chest expansion, decreased exercise tolerance, still using oxygen(will use oxygen for life though)

i think that treatment could be removal secretion including ACBT, breathing exercise with relaxed accessary muscles, mobilisation as the patient tolerates.

if you were his physio, what would you assess and treat? what's precaution and contraindication for him? For this kinds of patient(end of COPD?), better not to mobilise?

a bit unorganised... sorry for that.
would like to listen your opinion... thanx in advance.

hy..i thnk u have to combine pulm rehab as well as brochial hygiene therapy fr ths patient..chk out his exercise tolerance, both on O2 and off O2. u cn make him do some exercises with n without O2,,,thn chk fr his exercise endurance. once u get that, u cn design a exercise prog fr him...it really helps in maintaining his physical ability...ths shd be done along wth gud old Postural drainage techniques with ACBT..dis combination is really effective..
if he's really frail n wasted...thn try NMES to get his muscles bak..

postural drainage is also an effective treatment for copd but very less is known to me regarding this can anyone help me regarding postural drainage

Hey guys

I have 2 52 year old lady. She has a history of hypertension and diabetes which is controlled with meds. She smokes 20 cigarettes a day for the last 32 years. For the last 6 months she has been experiencing increased shortness of breath. Currently she has a dry unproductive cough. After the clinical exam I found: the use of accessory muscles, barrel chest shape, presence of cyanosis and finger clubbing

I would please like your help on a detailed physiotherapy management of the chronic lung obstructive lung diseases.

Thank you

A Laparotomy is a surgical procedure involving an incision through the abdominal wall to gain access into the abdominal cavity.It is also known as coeliotomy...

Hello

whatever was told by augustine is very true. I had given the same treatment and got good results ....:):cool: