A patient who has COPD is being treated with pursed lip breathing to PRIMARY purpose:

A patient who has COPD is being treated with pursed lip breathing to PRIMARY purpose:

• A. help prevent collapse of pulmonary airways during exhalation thereby reducing air trapping
• B. decrease the removal of CO2 during ventilation
• C. increase the residual volume of respiration so that more O2 is available for body metabolism
• D. stimulate further mobilization of mucous secretions to higher air passages where they can be expectorated

Answer: (A)

Pursed-lip breathing increases airway pressure during exhalation, which keeps small airways from collapsing and slows the pace of expiration. In COPD, airways tend to narrow and airflow out is limited, leading to air trapping and dynamic hyperinflation. By exhaling through tight lips, the expiratory flow is more controlled, expiration is prolonged, and more air can be pushed out, reducing trapped air and the work of breathing. This improved expiratory mechanics also helps with CO2 elimination and overall ventilatory efficiency. Therefore, the primary purpose is to prevent collapse of pulmonary airways during exhalation and reduce air trapping. It’s not about decreasing CO2 removal or increasing residual volume, and while it may assist with ventilation, it’s not primarily a mucus-mobilization technique.

Pursed-lip breathing increases airway pressure during exhalation, which keeps small airways from collapsing and slows the pace of expiration. In COPD, airways tend to narrow and airflow out is limited, leading to air trapping and dynamic hyperinflation. By exhaling through tight lips, the expiratory flow is more controlled, expiration is prolonged, and more air can be pushed out, reducing trapped air and the work of breathing. This improved expiratory mechanics also helps with CO2 elimination and overall ventilatory efficiency. Therefore, the primary purpose is to prevent collapse of pulmonary airways during exhalation and reduce air trapping. It’s not about decreasing CO2 removal or increasing residual volume, and while it may assist with ventilation, it’s not primarily a mucus-mobilization technique.