Persistent Vegetative State

My husband has been in a vegetative state for 5 months now, following celebral malaria and malpractice - all that aside, my question is how do I reduce his chest secretions - he is cared for in our home by a caregiver (one in a million) and he has just finished a course of strong antibiotics but his secretion is still concerning, he is able to cough - which assists with clearing his chest, but the suctioning seems to be to regular - anyone have any ideas.

[Dr Sharma]

Hi there. I understand your predicament. Give your husband vigorous steam inhalation at least twice a day. Steam is a very good mucolytic and helps in loosening the chest secretions. Chest physiotherapy is necessary and you may need the services of a trained physiotherapist to begin with and you or the caregiver could learn the various percussion techniques needed to assist in drainage of secretions which can be followed by oropharyngeal suctioning. Incentive spirometry must be taught to improve the respiratory reserve. Culture and sensitivity of the mucopurulent secretions is required to check the infecting pathogen and its sensitivity to antibiotics. You might need the help of a chest physician too. If he is comatose or semiconscious, he might also need to be intubated. Hope this helps. Take care.