Which therapy uses positive pressure to aid lung expansion?

The therapy that uses positive pressure to aid lung expansion is intermittent positive pressure breathing (IPPB). This technique involves delivering a preset pressure of air or oxygen to the patient, which helps inflate the lungs more effectively than normal breathing. By utilizing positive pressure, IPPB encourages deeper inhalation and can assist in improving ventilation, facilitating the movement of secretions, and increasing overall lung capacity, particularly in patients with respiratory conditions.

In contrast, thoracentesis is a procedure used to remove fluid from the pleural space and does not directly involve positive pressure mechanisms for lung expansion. Streptokinase is an enzyme used to dissolve blood clots, primarily in the treatment of certain heart conditions and is not related to lung expansion. Antitubercular agents are medications used to treat tuberculosis and do not address lung expansion directly; instead, they work to eliminate the bacteria causing the infection. Thus, IPPB is uniquely designed for promoting lung expansion through the application of positive pressure.