Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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What is the Vest®?
The Vest ® is a machine that is designed to help with airway clearance.
It consists of an inflatable jacket or wrap worn over the chest wall connected to an air pulse generator. The Vest® inflates, putting pressure on the chest; then rapidly inflates and deflates to cause vibrations within the airways.
This has 2 functions:
- to loosen secretions off the airway walls;
- to reduce the viscosity of mucus.
How to Use the Vest®
The Vest® can be used in a sitting, lying down or standing position. Your physiotherapist will advise on the best position for you to use the Vest® in.
- Put the jacket on so that it fits snugly but so that you can still get 2 fingers between the garment and chest.
- Attach the pair of air hoses.
- Press the grey upper arrow button above “normal”.
- Use the upper and lower arrow buttons to adjust the frequency, pressure and time, to the settings advised by your physiotherapist.
- Press ON button to inflate disposable garment.
- Press ON button again to begin therapy.
- Press OFF button to stop (or pause) therapy.
Make sure that you pause the machine every 2 minutes to huff and/or cough
- The remote control can also be used to pause the therapy.
- If you wish to discontinue treatment press OFF, the screen will display “incomplete x min remain” and you’ll need to press ON to go to the main screen.
- At the end of the set treatment time the screen will show “session complete”, the pulsations will stop and the disposable garment deflates.
- Pressing OFF at the end of the treatment will not turn off the screen, it will need to be turned off or unplugged from its power source.
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Physiotherapy service.
About this information
Service:
Physiotherapy
Reference:
BB/093
Approval date:
19 July 2024
Review date:
1 June 2027
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.