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Intensive Care Medicine

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01-06-2004 | Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care

Respiratory physiotherapy vs. suction: the effects on respiratory function in ventilated infants and children

Authors: Eleanor Main, Rosemary Castle, Di Newham, Janet Stocks

Published in: Intensive Care Medicine | Issue 6/2004

Abstract

Objective

To assess and compare the effects of physiotherapy and suction on expired tidal volume (V_TE), respiratory compliance (C_rs), resistance (R_rs) and arterial blood gases.

Design

Randomised cross-over study comparing outcomes after both treatments on the same day.

Setting

Intensive tertiary care units, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London.

Patients

One hundred children on full ventilatory support requiring physiotherapy. Paired measurements were obtained in 90 participants, and 7 others were excluded because of tracheal tube leak.

Interventions

Respiratory physiotherapy and suction.

Measurements and results

Physiotherapy lasted longer and required more saline and catheters per treatment. There were no significant group changes in V_TE or C_rs after either treatment, but a tendency for R_rsto fall following physiotherapy which reached significance in patients on volume-preset ventilation. There were also small but statistically significant reductions in HCO₃ ⁻, base excess and SaO₂ after physiotherapy. V_TE and C_rs increased and R_rs decreased in excess of their 95% limits of agreement for normal variability in approximately twice as many subjects following physiotherapy than suction, these differences being significant for V_TE and approaching significance for C_rs and R_rs.

Conclusions

Physiotherapy appeared to have an advantage in reducing R_rsin some patients, but also produced changes in derived blood gas parameters. Within individuals, physiotherapy treatments were also more likely to produce improvements in V_TE, C_rs and R_rs than suction. Further research should identify sensitive patient selection criteria and assess longer-term effects of such treatments.

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Title: Respiratory physiotherapy vs. suction: the effects on respiratory function in ventilated infants and children
Authors: Eleanor Main
Rosemary Castle
Di Newham
Janet Stocks
Publication date: 01-06-2004
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Intensive Care Medicine / Issue 6/2004
Print ISSN: 0342-4642
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1238
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-004-2262-0

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Respiratory physiotherapy vs. suction: the effects on respiratory function in ventilated infants and children

Abstract

Objective

Design

Setting

Patients

Interventions

Measurements and results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objective

Design

Setting

Patients

Interventions

Measurements and results

Conclusions

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