What is the primary goal of Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP) therapy?

The primary goal of Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP) therapy is to mobilize secretions within the airways. This therapeutic technique involves the patient actively exhaling against a fixed resistance, which helps to create a pressure gradient that can assist in keeping the airways open during expiration. As a result, it can help to prevent alveolar collapse and facilitate the clearance of mucus from the airways.

During PEP therapy, the positive pressure helps to improve ventilation in areas of the lungs that might be obstructed due to secretions, thus promoting better gas exchange. By mobilizing secretions, PEP can also aid patients with conditions that lead to excessive mucus production, allowing them to more effectively cough up and clear the airway blockages.

While enhancing cough effectiveness can be a secondary benefit of PEP therapy, it is not the primary goal. Techniques like postural drainage and mechanical ventilation serve different purposes and do not align with the fundamental principle of PEP therapy, which specifically focuses on utilizing positive pressure to support mucociliary clearance and improve airway patency.