Autogenic Drainage in Acute Exacerbation of Chronic COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, affecting a greater part of population worldwide. It is also an important economic burden on the patient and the health care infrastructure of the country. Airway mucus hyper secretion is a cardinal feature of COPD. Chest physiotherapy (CPT) is effective in clearing secretions from the lung of the patients with copious secretion. Techniques for augmenting, when necessary, the normal mucociliary and cough clearance mechanisms of the lungs are not new, but, in more recent years, new methods have been adopted among which is Autogenic Drainage for improving bronchial hygiene in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. This book emphasizes on role of Autogenic Drainage in improving the bronchial hygiene in acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis patients. I hope this text will open the new avenues for the respiratory therapists in managing COPD cases.