Recovering from an illness, surgery, or managing a chronic condition can be a challenging journey. While you may be familiar with doctors, nurses, and medications, there’s another key player in your healthcare team that you might not be as aware of the respiratory therapist. Let’s explore why their role is indispensable in your rehabilitation.

Respiratory dysfunction is a common complication following a stroke, surgery, or chronic illness but respiratory rehabilitation can significantly alleviate breathing troubles and reduce the risk of further complications. 

This type of rehabilitation is essential for preventing issues such as pneumonia, pulmonary ventilation disorders, lung injury, decreased pulmonary compliance, abnormal posture, and obstructive sleep apnea.

Common Conditions Treated by Respiratory Therapist

Post Tracheostomy: Their expertise in respiratory care, airway management, and rehabilitation helps to optimize a patient’s respiratory function and overall well-being.

Postoperative Care: After surgeries, especially chest or abdominal surgeries, patients often experience decreased lung function due to restricted movement and pain. Resp therapists help prevent complications like pneumonia by promoting early mobilization and lung expansion.

Chronic Respiratory Conditions: Individuals with chronic conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or cystic fibrosis benefit from regular rehabilitation sessions. These sessions can reduce the frequency and severity of respiratory exacerbations.

What to Expect from Respiratory Rehabilitation

Secretion Clearance: Respiratory therapists employ techniques like chest percussion, postural drainage, and vibration to help loosen and clear mucus or secretions from the airways. This is vital in preventing respiratory infections and improving overall lung function.

Respiratory Expertise: They are specialists in the respiratory system. They understand how to optimize lung function and breathing, which is crucial for overall well-being. Resp therapists uses techniques such as deep breathing exercises, coughing assistance, and airway clearance methods to enhance lung function. 

Whether you’re recovering from surgery or managing a chronic respiratory condition, their expertise is invaluable.

Airway Clearance: After surgery or during an illness, mucus and secretions can accumulate in your airways, making it difficult to breathe and increasing the risk of infections. Respiratory therapists employ techniques to help clear these obstructions, ensuring your lungs remain clear and healthy.

Exercise Prescription: Respiratory therapists design tailored exercise programs that enhance lung capacity and overall cardiovascular fitness. These programs are essential for patients recovering from respiratory illnesses.

Patient Education: Educating patients about their conditions and teaching them self-management techniques is a significant part of their role. This empowers patients to take control of their health.

Improved Quality of Life: Through a combination of physical techniques and emotional support, they can significantly enhance a patient’s quality of life. This is particularly important for individuals with chronic respiratory conditions.

Prevention of Complications: By monitoring patients closely and intervening, when necessary, respiratory therapists can help prevent complications like atelectasis (collapsed lung), pleural effusion (fluid in the chest), and pneumonia.

Collaborative Care: They work closely with other healthcare professionals, such as physiotherapists, nurses, and occupational therapists, to provide comprehensive patient care.

Techniques Used by Respiratory Therapists

Chest Physiotherapy & Suction Technique

  • Pneumonia is a common complication in patients post-surgery, stroke, or chronic illness.
  • The cough reflex is diminished due to weakness of the abdominal muscles, which increases the risk of aspiration.
  • Respiratory therapist plays a key role in performing chest physiotherapy and bronchial hygiene therapy which reduces secretions and lung infections.
  • Respiratory therapists perform chest physiotherapy (CPT) to help clear mucus from the lungs. This involves techniques like percussion, vibration, and postural drainage to improve lung function.
  • They also perform suctioning to remove secretions from the airways, particularly in patients who are unable to clear their secretions due to conditions like severe respiratory distress, intubation, or a tracheostomy. Suctioning helps prevent aspiration and maintain airway patency.

Oxygen Therapy

  • Respiratory therapists assess the need for oxygen therapy, determine the appropriate delivery method (e.g., nasal cannula, face mask), and titrate oxygen levels to maintain adequate blood oxygenation. 
  • They monitor the patient’s oxygen levels using pulse oximetry and arterial blood gases (ABGs), ensuring optimal oxygenation while avoiding oxygen toxicity.

Breathing Exercises 

  • Breathing Exercises play an important role in improving a patient’s Lung Capacity.
  • Respiratory therapist teaches exercises to strengthen the diaphragm and other respiratory muscles.
  • They use methods such as diaphragmatic breathing and pursed-lip breathing to improve ventilation efficiency.

Tracheostomy Care 

  • Respi therapist makes sure that regular cleaning and care of the tracheostomy site is done to prevent infection.
  • Downsizing – It is an invasive procedure for reducing the TT tube size eg- 8.00 mm to 6.00 mm
  • Cap closure is a closure of the TT tube from the outside allowing the patient to breathe by nose and to check if the patient has a good cough and Swallow Reflex.
  • Decannulation is the removal of the tracheostomy tube once TT cap closures are achieved.

Non-Invasive Ventilation

  • Respiratory therapists manage non-invasive ventilation methods like CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) and BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure). 
  • They adjust settings based on the patient’s needs, monitor their response to therapy, and ensure the mask or interface fits properly to minimize leaks and maximize efficacy.

Invasive Ventilation

  • They are involved in the management of mechanically ventilated patients, which includes setting up and adjusting ventilators, monitoring ventilator parameters, interpreting blood gases, and making necessary changes to ventilation strategies. 
  • They also play a key role in weaning patients off mechanical ventilation when appropriate.

At HCAH, Respiratory therapists play a vital role in the rehabilitation process, particularly for patients recovering from surgery, illness, or managing chronic respiratory conditions. 

Their expertise in airway management and lung function optimization helps prevent complications like pneumonia and enhances overall recovery.

They employ techniques such as chest percussion, vibration, breathing exercises, and oxygen therapy to improve lung capacity and clear airways. 

By working closely with other healthcare professionals, our respiratory therapists provide tailored care that significantly improves patient outcomes and quality of life, making them an indispensable part of the healthcare team.