Drainage used in bronchiectasis and lung abcess. The patient's body is positioned so that the trachea is inclined downward and below the affected chest area Dorland's Medical Dictionary.. Postural drainage is essential in treating bronchiectasis and patients must receive physiotherapy to learn to tip themselves into a position in which the lobe to be drained is uppermost at least three times daily for 10-20 minutes. most patients find that lying over the side of the bed with head and thorax down is the most effective position Kumar and Clark's Clinical Medicine.. The treatment is often used in conjunction with a technique for loosening secretions in the chest cavity called chest percussion. Chest percussion is performed by clapping the back or chest with a cupped hand. Alternatively, a mechanical vibrator may be used in some cases to facilitate loosening of secretions http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec04/ch040/ch040i.html.

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