Chest percussion is contraindicated in clients with:

Appeared in: NVS- 2025

Explanation

Chest percussion is a form of chest physiotherapy that uses mechanical force (clapping) to loosen lung secretions.
This procedure is contraindicated in clients with bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia or low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia).
The key reason is that the physical impact can rupture fragile capillaries in the lungs and chest wall, leading to serious complications like pulmonary hemorrhage or severe bruising.

Option A: Oxygen therapy is a treatment, not a condition that is worsened by chest percussion. Clearing the airways can improve the effectiveness of oxygen therapy.
Option B: Chest percussion is often a recommended treatment for pneumonia to help mobilize the thick secretions and purulent exudate that accumulate in the lungs.
Option D: Chest physiotherapy, including percussion, is a standard intervention for many patients with COPD to manage chronic mucus production and prevent exacerbations.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Contraindications for Chest Percussion as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A nurse must always perform a thorough assessment before initiating chest physiotherapy. This includes reviewing the patient's medical history, recent lab values (especially platelet count and coagulation studies like PT/INR), and physical condition.
Performing chest percussion on a patient with an undiagnosed or known bleeding disorder is a serious safety risk that can lead to life-threatening hemorrhage.
What if? If the patient had cystic fibrosis instead of a bleeding disorder, chest percussion would be a cornerstone of their daily respiratory therapy, not a contraindication. It is essential for clearing the thick, tenacious mucus characteristic of the disease.

How to Approach the Question

First, understand the procedure mentioned: 'Chest percussion' involves applying physical force (clapping) to the chest.
Next, identify the key term: 'contraindicated.' This means you are looking for a condition where the procedure would be harmful.
Evaluate each option by considering the effect of applying physical force:
Would force harm someone on oxygen? No, it might help.
Would force harm someone with pneumonia? No, it's used to treat it by loosening mucus.
Would force harm someone with a bleeding disorder? Yes, it could cause bleeding.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QizPzIzRyaRTL-A0cumvBp

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 4 p. 253-255

Practise the full NVS- 2025

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.