Técnicas Instrumentales en Kinesiología Respiratoria: Principios y Orientación para la Práctica Clínica / Instrumental respiratory physiotherapy: principles and guidance for clinical practice

Introducción. La kinesiología respiratoria cuenta con una amplia variedad de estrategias terapéuticas para el tratamiento de pacientes con disfunción respiratoria, entre las cuales se pueden mencionar las técnicas instrumentales. En la actualidad, existe una amplia variedad de ellas, la gran mayoría frecuentemente utilizadas en la práctica clínica. No obstante, la literatura que respalda su uso es heterogénea al igual que sus protocolos de aplicación. El objetivo de esta revisión es describir las técnicas kinesiológicas instrumentales más utilizadas en la práctica clínica teniendo como base una propuesta de clasificación. Se incluyen los siguientes dispositivos: Threshold PEP, Mascarilla PiPEP, TheraPEP, Flutter, Acapella, RC-Cornet, chaleco oscilatorio/compresivo torácico de alta frecuencia, ventilación percusiva intrapulmonar e incentivador volumétrico y flujométrico. Estas se describen de acuerdo a sus características principales, principios fisiológicos, protocolos de aplicación y evidencia disponible en la literatura.

Background. Respiratory physiotherapy has various therapeutic strategies for treating patients with respiratory dysfunction, including mechanical devices. Currently, a wide variety of these devices exist, and many are frequently used in clinical practice. However, the literature supporting their use is heterogeneous, as well as their application protocols. This paper aims to provide an overview of the most used devices in respiratory physiotherapy at clinical practice based on a proposed classification. The following devices were included: Threshold PEP, PiPEP mask, TheraPEP, Flutter, Acapella, RC-Cornet, High frequency chest wall compression/oscillation, Intrapulmonary Percussive Ventilation, flow and volume spirometer. They were described according to their main characteristics, physiological mechanisms, application protocols and evidence from literature.

Riesgo de Retención de Secreciones en Pacientes con Ventilación Mecánica Invasiva / Risk of Retention of Secretions in Patients with Invasive Mechanical Ventilation

Introducción. Los pacientes conectados a ventilación mecánica invasiva pueden presentar complicaciones respiratorias, donde la retención de secreciones es una de las más frecuentes. El drenaje y eliminación de las secreciones depende entre otras variables de los flujos respiratorios generados, donde una diferencia absoluta entre el flujo espiratorio máximo (FEM) y flujo inspiratorio máximo (FIM) menor a 17 L•min-1 o una relación FIM/FEM mayor a 0.9 favorecerían la retención de secreciones. Sin embargo, falta por determinar los flujos respiratorios resultantes y la proporción de pacientes con riesgo de retención de secreciones según estos parámetros. Objetivo. Determinar los flujos respiratorios durante la ventilación mecánica invasiva y la proporción de pacientes que se encuentra en riesgo de retención de secreciones. Métodos. Estudio descriptivo transversal desarrollado en la Unidad de Paciente Crítico Médico-Quirúrgico del "Hospital Clínico de la Red de Salud UC-CHRISTUS". Se incluyeron pacientes adultos intubados y conectados a ventilación mecánica, en quienes se determinó los flujos respiratorios resultantes y se estimó la diferencia absoluta FEM-FIM, la relación FIM/FEM y la proporción de pacientes con riesgo de retención de secreciones. Resultados. Se incluyeron 100 pacientes, 45% presentaba entre sus diagnósticos patología respiratoria. La mediana de la diferencia absoluta entre FEM y FIM fue de 6 L•min-1 (-5 - 14.5) y la mediana de la tasa FIM/FEM de 0.87 (0.7 - 1.13). Un 84% presentó una diferencia absoluta entre FEM y FIM menor a 17 L•min-1, mientras que el 46% presentó una relación FIM/FEM mayor a 0.9. Conclusión. Una alta proporción de pacientes conectados a ventilación mecánica presenta riesgo de retención de secreciones independiente de la presencia o ausencia de patología respiratoria. Se requieren futuras investigaciones para evaluar el impacto de este criterio sobre complicaciones respiratorias.

Background. Patients connected to invasive mechanical ventilation may develop respiratory complications, where retention of secretions is one of the most frequent. The drainage and elimination of the secretions depend on other variables of the respiratory flows generated, where an absolute difference between the peak expiratory flow (PEF) and peak inspiratory flow (PIF) less than 17 L•min-1 or a PIF/PEF ratio greater than 0.9 would favor secretion retention. However, it is necessary to determine the respiratory flows and the proportion of patients, with and without respiratory pathology, with a risk of secretions retention according to these parameters. Objective. Determine respiratory flows during connection to invasive mechanical ventilation and the proportion of patients with and without respiratory pathology at risk of secretions retention. Methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Medical-Surgical Intensive Care Unit of the "Hospital Clínico de la Red de Salud UC-CHRISTUS". Intubated adult patients connected to mechanical ventilation were included, in whom the respiratory flows were assessed, and the absolute PEF-PIF difference, PIF/PEF ratio, and the proportion of patients with a risk of secretions retention were determined. Results. 100 patients were included, of which 45% presented among their diagnoses acute or chronic respiratory pathology. For the total number of patients, the median of the absolute difference between PEF and PIF was 6 L•min-1 (-5 - 14.5), and the median of the PIF/PEF ratio of 0.87 (0.7 - 1.13). Of the total of patients, 84% presented an absolute difference between PEF and PIF less than 17 L• min-1, while 46% presented a PIF/PEF ratio greater than 0.9. Conclusion. Considering the absolute difference between PEF-PIF and the PIF/PEF ratio, many patients present a risk of secretions retention. However, whether this is associated with severe respiratory complications in patients connected to invasive mechanical ventilation should be clarified in future research.

Desvendando a técnica de compressão torácica em pacientes em ventilação mecânica: uma revisão narrativa / A deep look into the rib cage compression technique in mechanically ventilated patients: a narrative review

RESUMO O manejo deficiente das secreções é uma das complicações mais frequentes em pacientes em ventilação mecânica invasiva. A depuração das secreções por meio da fisioterapia respiratória é um aspecto crítico do tratamento desses pacientes. A compressão torácica manual é uma das técnicas de fisioterapia respiratória mais praticadas em pacientes ventilados, mas seu impacto nos desfechos clínicos permanece controverso devido a questões metodológicas e ao pouco conhecimento sobre sua ação. Nesta revisão, apresenta-se uma análise detalhada dos princípios físicos envolvidos na execução da técnica de compressão torácica. Também investigam-se os efeitos fisiológicos observados em estudos experimentais e clínicos, que mostram que o uso de compressão torácica curta e vigorosa, baseada no aumento de fluxos expiratórios (diferença de fluxo aéreo inspiratório-expiratório > 33L/minuto), pode melhorar o movimento do muco em direção à glote. Por outro lado, o uso de compressão torácica suave e gradual ao longo de toda a fase expiratória não afeta os fluxos expiratórios, resultando em efeitos ineficazes ou indesejados em alguns casos. Mais estudos fisiológicos são necessários para entender os princípios da técnica de compressão torácica em pacientes ventilados. No entanto, de acordo com as evidências, a compressão torácica tem mais benefícios potenciais do que riscos, o que incentiva sua implementação.

ABSTRACT Defective management of secretions is one of the most frequent complications in invasive mechanically ventilated patients. Clearance of secretions through chest physiotherapy is a critical aspect of the treatment of these patients. Manual rib cage compression is one of the most practiced chest physiotherapy techniques in ventilated patients; however, its impact on clinical outcomes remains controversial due to methodological issues and poor understanding of its action. In this review, we present a detailed analysis of the physical principles involved in rib cage compression technique performance, as well as the physiological effects observed in experimental and clinical studies, which show that the use of brief and vigorous rib cage compression, based on increased expiratory flows (expiratory-inspiratory airflow difference of > 33L/minute), can improve mucus movement toward the glottis. On the other hand, the use of soft and gradual rib cage compression throughout the whole expiratory phase does not impact the expiratory flows, resulting in ineffective or undesired effects in some cases. More physiological studies are needed to understand the principles of the rib cage compression technique in ventilated humans. However, according to the evidence, rib cage compression has more potential benefits than risks, so its implementation should be promoted.