Physiotherapy care of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) - a brazilian experience

Some patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) present with severe acute respiratory syndrome, which causes multiple organ dysfunction, besides dysfunction of the respiratory system, that requires invasive procedures. On the basis of the opinions of front-line experts and a review of the relevant literature on several topics, we proposed clinical practice recommendations on the following aspects for physiotherapists facing challenges in treating patients and containing virus spread: 1. personal protective equipment, 2. conventional chest physiotherapy, 3. exercise and early mobilization, 4. oxygen therapy, 5. nebulizer treatment, 6. non-invasive ventilation and high-flow nasal oxygen, 7. endotracheal intubation, 8. protective mechanical ventilation, 9. management of mechanical ventilation in severe and refractory cases of hypoxemia, 10. prone positioning, 11. cuff pressure, 12. tube and nasotracheal suction, 13. humidifier use for ventilated patients, 14. methods of weaning ventilated patients and extubation, and 15. equipment and hand hygiene. These recommendations can serve as clinical practice guidelines for physiotherapists. This article details the development of guidelines on these aspects for physiotherapy of patients with COVID-19.

Impacto de um protocolo de desmame com o uso sistemático da ventilação não invasiva na duração da ventilação mecânica / Influence of a weaning protocol with the systematic use of the noninvasive ventilation in the length of the mechanical ventilation

INTRODUÇÃO: O tempo de ventilação mecânica e a necessidade de reintubação foram associados na literatura com um aumento da mortalidade nesse pacientes. Protocolo de desmame foi sugerido para diminuir os dias de ventilação mecânica invasiva e os riscos inerentes a esta. No mesmo período o uso da ventilação não invasiva (VNI) foi proposto em estudos como parte do processo de desmame. Resultados positivos foram observados com esta intervenção em pacientes selecionados. Entretanto, o mesmo não foi observado quando esta era utilizada como tratamento de falência respiratória pós extubação. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a eficácia do protocolo de desmame elaborado o qual incluiu o uso da VNI imediatamente após a extubação em pacientes selecionados. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo prospectivo com controle histórico em pacientes adultos. Dados consecutivos de pacientes ventilados por um período ³ 48 horas que respeitassem os critérios de inclusão e exclusão do estudo foram coletados. O local do estudo foi uma UTI Médico/Cirúrgica com 22 leitos em um hospital terciário. RESULTADOS: Comparando os pacientes pré- protocolo (74) com os pós- protocolos (74) foi observado que os pacientes eram similares em suas características basais. No grupo protocolo foi evidenciada nos pacientes uma redução nos dias de suporte ventilatório invasivo (7[4; 11,3] vs. 6[4; 9], p=0.04) e uma probabilidade de se manter intubado nos dias de internação na UTI menor nesses pacientes (p=0.02)...

CONTEXT: The length of mechanical ventilation and the need for reintubation were associated on the literature with a mortality increased in these patients. Weaning protocol was a recommendation to reduce the length of invasive ventilation and the risk associated with those. At the same time noninvasive ventilation (NPPV) proposed by studies as part of the weaning technique. Positive results were observes with these interventions in selected patients. However, it was not observes when NPPV was used to treat respiratory failure after extubation. AIM: Evaluate the efficacy of the weaning protocol that was developing with the use of NPPV immediately after extubation in selected patients. DESIGN, SETTINGS AND SUBJECTS: A before- after study was realized with adults patients. Data of consecutive patients mechanically ventilated for ³ 48 hours that respected the inclusion and exclusion criteria was collect. The local of the study was a medical/surgical ICU with 22 beds in a tertiary hospital. RESULTS: Comparing the pre protocol patients (74) with the post protocol patients (74) was observe in both phases the patients had similar baseline characteristics. On the protocol group was observe a reduction on the intubated days of the patients (7[4; 11, 3] vs. 6[4; 9], p=0.04) and a lower probability on these phase to maintained intubated on the length on ICU in days (p=0.02)...