The most common treatment of atelectasis in the hospital setting is manual chest physiotherapy though there is limited evidence of its efficacy. Chest percussion and postural drainage are used in bronchiectasis and lung abscess. The patient's body is positioned so that the trachea is inclined downward and below the affected chest area.Dorland's Medical Dictionary. Postural drainage is essential in treating bronchiectasis. Patients must receive physiotherapy to learn to tip themselves into a position in which the lobe to be drained is uppermost at least three times daily for up to 30 minutes during each session.
