CLEARANCE SYSTEM

Inadequate, or impaired, airway clearance occurs when the airway clearance components are ineffective in expectorating mucus from the lung’s walls. Impaired clearance can occur for a multitude of reasons and has been linked to a wide range of diseases and conditions. The results of inadequate airway clearance include lung infections often leading to pneumonia and permanent lung scarring, decreased pulmonary function, increased health care costs related to antibiotic treatment and hospitalizations, loss of productivity, and, in some cases, morbidity and mortality. Many individuals have diseases or conditions that interfere with natural clearance mechanisms and create a need for an aggressive and effective therapy to clear the airways.