Pneumonia - Treatment

Patients or their families should discuss these criteria with the doctor. In a 2002 study, 42% of patients who had two or more signs of instability when they left the hospital were either readmitted or had died within 30 days, compared to 10.5% of completely stabilized patients.

Chest Therapy

Chest therapy using incentive spirometry, rhythmic inhalation and coughing, and chest tapping are all important techniques to loosen the mucus and move it up out of the lungs. It should be used both in the hospital and when the patient returns home during recovery.

Incentive Spirometry. The patient uses an incentive spirometer at regular intervals to improve breathing and loosen sputum. The spirometer is a hand-held clear plastic device that includes a breathing tube and a container with a movable gauge. The patient exhales and then inhales forcefully through the tube, using the pressure of the inhalation to raise the gauge to the highest level possible.

Rhythmic Breathing and Coughing. During recovery, the patient performs rhythmic breathing and coughing every four hours:

• Before starting the breathing exercise, the patient should tap lightly on the chest to loosen mucus within the lung. If available, a caregiver should also tap on the patient's back.
• The patient inhales rhythmically and deeply three or four times.
• The patient then coughs as deeply as possible with the goal of producing sputum.

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