ABSTRACT
This study aims to describe the benefits of inserting the physical therapist on the profile of low-risk premature infants in neonatal intensive care units. This is a retrospective control study, with consultation to the medical records of premature infants admitted in 2006/2007 without physical therapy (PREP) and in 2009/2010 with physical therapy for up to 8h/day (POSTP). 61 preterm infants in the PREP period and 93 in the POSTP were included, born with ≥1000g, SNAP-PE II <40, with a duration of ventilatory support ≥24h. Maternal and neonatal profiles, duration of hospitalization, invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy were verified. Descriptive analysis, the Mann Whitney test, t-test, Chi-squared and Fisher’s test were performed, considering p≤0.05. There was a significant difference between gestational ages [PREP: 230.5 (±16.5)/POSTP: 226 (±15); p = 0.05], frequency of sepsis [PREP: 6 (10%) / POSTP: 30 (32%); p < 0.01], respiratory distress syndrome [PREP: 11 (18%)/POSTP: 43 (46%); p < 0.01], need for resuscitation in the delivery room [PREP: 10 (16%) / POSTP: 32 (34%); p = 0.02], need for orotracheal intubation [PREP: 8 (13%)/POSTP: 26 (28%); invasive ventilation (PREP: 0.4±1.3 days/POSTP: 1.3±3.3 days, p = 0.04), continuous positive airway pressure (PREP: 1.5±1.0 days/POSTP: 2.7±3.8 days, p = 0.04). The presence of the physical therapist generated benefits, contributing to the maintenance of the length of hospitalization and oxygen therapy in face of a profile of more immature newborns and with more complications in the period after physical therapy was inserted.
Keywords
Physical Therapy Modalities; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Infant, Premature; Case-Control Studies