Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy
Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy
This domain tests respiratory assessment and safe exercise or airway clearance. Expect questions on auscultation, oxygen saturation, arterial blood gases, sputum retention, positioning, early mobilisation and contraindications.
Core concepts
- Assess breathing pattern, effort, cough, sputum, chest expansion, auscultation and haemodynamics before intervention.
- Use SpO2 as one data point, not the whole picture; interpret with clinical signs and target ranges.
- Select airway clearance techniques according to secretion location, viscosity and patient tolerance: active cycle of breathing, positioning, positive expiratory pressure or assisted cough.
- Check contraindications and precautions for exercise and positioning, including unstable cardiovascular status, severe haemoptysis and raised intracranial pressure.
- Mobilise early when safe; monitor symptoms, oxygen and fatigue.
Worked example
A post-operative patient has coarse crackles, reduced breath sounds at the bases and ineffective cough. You assess pain, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate and mobility. You optimise analgesia, position for ventilation, teach supported huffing and mobilise with assistance. Reasoning: secretion clearance and lung volume improve with positioning, cough technique and early movement, but safety depends on monitoring.
Traps
- Relying on SpO2 alone and ignoring deterioration.
- Using vigorous airway clearance when haemoptysis or instability is present.
- Mobilising without checking contraindications.
- Failing to reassess after intervention.