What is the best postural drainage position for the middle segment of the lung?
Postural drainage is a technique where the patient lies with the affected area up. This allows secretions from that part of the lung to drain down and more centrally to the larger air passages and then get coughed up more easily. The middle segment of the right side is actually both toward the side and the front of the lungs. So the best position is to lie on the left side, with the left side on the mattress. This information has been approved by Scott Van Da Walker, MSN, FNP-C, and Barry Make, MD (July 2006).
Barry Make, MD– Postural drainage is a technique where the patient lies with the affected area up. This allows secretions from that part of the lung to drain down and more centrally to the larger air passages and then get coughed up more easily. The middle segment of the right side is actually both toward the side and the front of the lungs. So the best position is to lie on the left side, with the left side on the mattress.
