Final answer:
Huffing and coughing are immediate interventions that can help a patient post cerebrovascular accident clear their airway. Given that coughing may be difficult due to reduced muscle strength, huffing is often a preferred method for its efficiency and less fatiguing nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The appropriate intervention for a physical therapist treating a patient struggling to clear his airway after a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), also known as a stroke, would depend on the specific circumstances and severity of the airway obstruction. The four potential interventions listed are:
- Coughing which is a natural reflex that helps to clear the airways of irritants and secretions.
- Incentive spirometry, which is typically used to improve pulmonary function and prevent atelectasis postoperatively, not specifically for immediate airway clearance.
- Postural drainage, which involves positioning the patient to assist in drainage of secretions from the lungs, but may not be effective in acute airway clearance situations.
- Huffing, also known as a forced expiratory technique, which can be very effective for moving mucus from smaller airways to larger ones, making it easier to expectorate.
Given the immediate need to clear the airway, huffing and coughing are more likely to be beneficial, with huffing being less fatiguing for the patient. Additionally, coughing may be difficult or ineffective if the patient has reduced muscle strength following a CVA.