Clinical profile of newborns undergoing physical therapy in a neonatal intensive care unit

Graziela Ferreira Biazus,Cidia Cristina Kupke

doi:10.1590/1980-5918.029.003.ao13

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: In neonatal therapy units, physical therapy is directed toward integral baby care. Objective: To describe the profile of newborns (NBs) hospitalized in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Methods: Retrospective documentary study with data collection from medical records from July 2011 to July 2013. The sample consisted of NBs who performed motor and respiratory therapy. Data were grouped into five categories according to birth weight (≤ 1000g, 1001-1500g, 1501-2000g, 2001-2500g, ≥ 2501g). Results: total of 1,884 newborns were admitted to the NICU within the stipulated period, 168 (13.9%) underwent physical therapy. Of the 168 NBs who underwent physical therapy, 137 were born in the hospital (81.5%) and 31 were transferred there (18.5%); 17 of these babies died during the neonatal hospital stay (10.1%). All newborns of the extremely low birth weight group (≤ 1000g) required mechanical ventilation, 72.7% non-invasive ventilation and 16.6% high-frequency oscillatory ventilation. The occurrence of pneumothorax in the extremely low birth weight group was 13.8% and 16% in the group with birth weight 1001-1500g. Conclusion: Infants with low birth weight (<2500g) constituted the profile of NBs who underwent physical therapy, which was directly related to higher incidence of death and pneumothorax, as well as increased use of mechanical and non-invasive ventilation.

Highlights

In neonatal therapy units, physical therapy is directed toward integral baby care
The aims of this study were to describe the proile of newborns that underwent physical therapy and to relate the neonatal care with birth weight in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in the period July 2011 to July 2013
Of the total of 1,884 newborns admitted to the NICU, within the stipulated period, 168 (13.9%) underwent respiratory and/or motor therapy

Summary

Introduction

Physical therapy is directed toward integral baby care. Objective: To describe the pro ile of newborns (NBs) hospitalized in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Data were grouped into ive categories according to birth weight (≤ 1000g, 1001-1500g, 1501-2000g, 20012500g, ≥ 2501g). Of the 168 NBs who underwent physical therapy, 137 were born in the hospital (81.5%) and 31 were transferred there (18.5%); 17 of these babies died during the neonatal hospital stay (10.1%). All newborns of the extremely low birth weight group (≤ 1000g) required mechanical ventilation, 72.7% non-invasive ventilation and 16.6% high-frequency oscillatory ventilation. In neonatal physical therapy care units the aim is to improve pulmonary conditions, reduce airway resistance and increase lung compliance in order to reduce the respiratory workload imposed on newborns (NBs), aiming to improve the respiratory mechanics and neuromotor development (1). Some of the indications for physical therapy in preterm and term neonates are the aspiration syndromes, respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, atelectasis and prevention of mechanical ventilation complications (2). Regarding the criteria of risk, the Ministry of Health classi ied newborns born with less than 2500g as underweight; those born weighing less than 1500g as very low birth weight and newborns with birth weight less than 1000g as extremely low weight (6)

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