Bronchic hygiene techniques in newborns and infants in the intensive care unit: systematic review of clinical trials

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Respiratory physiotherapy has been an important space and is capable of great efforts in the treatment of the newborn (NB) and the infant. The main work items of neonatal and pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) are the routinely used bronchial hygiene techniques, such as those with great variability. OBJECTIVE: To verify the scientific evidences regarding the possible beneficial or adverse effects, indications and contraindications of the bronchic hygiene techniques most used in the NB and the infant in the ICU. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is a systematic review, using clinical trials, without temporal delimitation, based on the PRISMA protocol. The following databases were used: PubMed, LILACS, SciELO, PEDro and ScienceDirect. RESULTS: A total of 154 articles were identified, only 10 met the inclusion criteria. These  5 (50%) associate tapping/thoracic percussion, postural drainage, aspiration of upper airways and/or tracheal and vibration and/or manual thoracic vibrocompression; 1 (10%) associates drainage, vibration and percussion; 1 (10%) associated vibrocompression and nasotracheal aspiration; 1 (10%) associates percussion and thoracic vibration; 1 (10%) study uses tracheal aspiration and 1 (10%) uses manual thoracic vibrocompression. CONCLUSION: Most studies found no relevant reported contraindications to prevent the use of bronchic hygiene techniques in the neonatal and pediatric ICU, however, some results were controversial as its correct and effective statement.