Hospital physical therapy management in pediatric patients with covid-19: case reports

ABSTRACT Objective: To report the physiotherapeutic management of two pediatric cases with COVID-19 admitted in a reference state hospital to treat the disease in Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil. Cases description: Case 1, female, 10-month-old child, pre-existing chronic disease, hospitalized since birth, mechanical ventilation dependency via tracheotomy, progressed with hypoxemia, requiring oxygen therapy, and increased ventilator parameters, and a diagnosis of COVID-19 was confirmed. Airway clearance and pulmonary expansion maintenance therapies were performed. During hospitalization, the child acquired cephalic control, sitting without support, rolling, holding, and reaching objects. Recommendations were provided to a family member to maintain motor development milestones. Case 2, male, nine years old, previous psychiatric disease and obesity, showed worsening of the sensory state, requiring intensive care and invasive mechanical ventilation, with the diagnosis of SARS-Cov-2 infection. The physical therapy was performed to maintain airway clearance, pulmonary expansion, and early mobilization, showing ventilatory improvement during the intensive care hospitalization and successfully extubated after 17 days. The physical therapy evolved from passive to resistive exercises during the hospitalization, and the patient was able to walk without assistance at discharge, with the same previous functional status. Comments: The COVID-19 showed different manifestations in both cases. Physical therapy treatment was essential to maintain and to recover the functional status of the patients. Future studies are needed to improve the understanding of disease course and its functional consequences to offer an efficient treatment to pediatric patients with COVID-19. RESUMO Objetivo: Relatar as condutas fisioterapêuticas dos dois casos de pacientes pediátricos com COVID-19 internados em hospital de referência estadual em Porto Alegre para tratamento da doença. Descrição dos casos: Caso 1, sexo feminino, 10 meses de idade com doença crônica preexistente, internada desde o nascimento, utilizava ventilação mecânica via traqueostomia, evoluiu com hipoxemia, necessidade de oxigenoterapia e aumento dos parâmetros ventilatórios, sendo confirmada COVID-19. Foram realizadas técnicas de desobstrução brônquica e manutenção da expansão pulmonar. Além disso, a criança durante a internação adquiriu controle cefálico, sedestação sem apoio, rolar e alcance de objetos e durante infecção por coronavírus foram passadas orientações ao familiar para manutenção dos marcos motores adquiridos. Caso 2, sexo masculino, 9 anos, com doença psiquiátrica prévia e obesidade, evoluiu com quadro de rebaixamento do sensório e necessidade de tratamento intensivo, sendo o paciente colocado em ventilação mecânica invasiva na chegada à unidade e confirmada a infecção por SARS-CoV-2. Realizou fisioterapia para desobstrução brônquica, reexpansão pulmonar e mobilização precoce, apresentando melhora ventilatória ao longo da internação, e após 17 dias foi extubado com sucesso. Evoluiu de cinesioterapia passiva para assistida e resistida na internação pediátrica, conseguindo deambular sem auxílio, e teve alta hospitalar com condição funcional prévia à internação hospitalar. Comentários: A COVID-19 apresentou-se de forma distinta nos casos, todavia a fisioterapia foi essencial para a manutenção e recuperação do quadro funcional dos pacientes. Estudos futuros são necessários para melhor compreensão do curso da doença e suas repercussões funcionais, a fim de traçar um tratamento eficiente para os pacientes pediátricos acometidos pela COVID-19.

HOSPITAL PHYSICAL THERAPY MANAGEMENT IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH COVID-19: CASE REPORTS.

OBJECTIVE: To report the physiotherapeutic management of two pediatric cases with COVID-19 admitted in a reference state hospital to treat the disease in Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil. CASES DESCRIPTION: Case 1, female, 10-month-old child, pre-existing chronic disease, hospitalized since birth, mechanical ventilation dependency via tracheotomy, progressed with hypoxemia, requiring oxygen therapy, and increased ventilator parameters, and a diagnosis of COVID-19 was confirmed. Airway clearance and pulmonary expansion maintenance therapies were performed. During hospitalization, the child acquired cephalic control, sitting without support, rolling, holding, and reaching objects. Recommendations were provided to a family member to maintain motor development milestones. Case 2, male, nine years old, previous psychiatric disease and obesity, showed worsening of the sensory state, requiring intensive care and invasive mechanical ventilation, with the diagnosis of SARS-Cov-2 infection. The physical therapy was performed to maintain airway clearance, pulmonary expansion, and early mobilization, showing ventilatory improvement during the intensive care hospitalization and successfully extubated after 17 days. The physical therapy evolved from passive to resistive exercises during the hospitalization, and the patient was able to walk without assistance at discharge, with the same previous functional status. COMMENTS: The COVID-19 showed different manifestations in both cases. Physical therapy treatment was essential to maintain and to recover the functional status of the patients. Future studies are needed to improve the understanding of disease course and its functional consequences to offer an efficient treatment to pediatric patients with COVID-19.