Fisioterapia Respiratória na Miastenia Grave: Estudo de Caso

Abstract

Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is a no known causative pathogen disease that has got autoimmune character. It affects the skeletal musculature causing loss of strength and muscle fatigability in voluntary move­ments. Objective. verify the interference of respiratory physiotherapy in a Myasthenia Gravis patient pulmonary function. This work was carried out with a female patient, aged 21, carrier of MG, submitted to a set of physiotherapy activities to pulmonary function. It was car­ried out two weekly sessions summing 12 sessions, which approached respiratory mechanics muscles stretching techniques developed in diagonal and respiratory muscles training. The respiratory muscle strength was evaluated through the manovacuometer; the current vol­ume, vital capacity and minute volume were evaluated by the venti­lometer; the expiratory peak through the peakflow; and the grade of dyspnea through the Borg Scale. It was observed an improvement of current volume, slow vital capacity, expiratory flux peak and inspira­tory muscle strength when compared the initial with end values. The respiratory physiotherapy increased the patient ventilatory capacity and respiratory muscle strength, contributing to the reduction of re­spiratory fatigability and minimizing the myasthenic crisis.