Association between thoracic musculoskeletal abnormalities and lung function in preterm infants.

INTRODUCTION: In view of the difficulties and risks of performing lung function tests in infants and the hypothesis that children with abnormal pulmonary test may exhibit thoracic musculoskeletal alterations. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the frequency of abnormal lung function and their relationship. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study with children from 6 to 12 months of corrected age, born at a gestational age of <37 weeks and with a birthweight ≤1500 g, who were subjected to a lung function test and photogrammetry--an objective and non-invasive procedure. To verify the association between the thoracic musculoskeletal abnormalities and measure changes in lung function, univariate linear regression was used. The level of statistical significance was setted at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Of the 38 infants, 12 (31.6%) exhibited abnormal lung function, including 9 (23.7%) with obstructive function and 3 (7.9%) with restrictive function. A significant association was noted between forced expiratory volume at 0.5 second <-2 z score and the acromion/xiphoid process/acromion angle (ß = 4.935); forced vital capacity <-2 z score and the angle of the manubrium/left acromion/trapezium (ß = 0.033) and forced expiratory volume at 0.5 second and forced vital capacity ratio <-2 z score and the inframammillary point/xiphoid process/inframammillary point angle (ß = 0.043). CONCLUSION: Preterm infants with very low birthweight presented a high frequency of abnormal lung function, particularly obstructive type and thoracic musculoskeletal abnormalities were associated with changes in lung function.

Pulmonary function in former very low birth weight preterm infants in the first year of life.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary function in former preterm infants may be compromised during childhood. OBJECTIVES: To assess pulmonary function in very-low-birth-weight preterm infants at 6-12 months of corrected age and analyze the factors associated with abnormal pulmonary function. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with preterm infants at 6-12 months of corrected age with birth weight <1500 g. Children with malformations or affected by neuromuscular and respiratory diseases were excluded. Forced expiratory flows were assessed using the chest compression technique, and volumes were measured by total body plethysmography. Pulmonary function parameters in preterm infants were compared to a control group of same-aged children born at term. RESULTS: We studied 51 preterm and 37 infants born at term. Preterm infants had: gestational age at birth (30.0 ±â€¯2.5 weeks), birth weight (1179 ±â€¯247 g), 27.5% had bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and 45% received mechanical ventilation. Preterm infants had lower median z-scores in comparison to term infants for the following parameters (p < 0.05): FVC (-0.3 vs. 0.7), FEV0.5 (-0.5 vs. 0.9), FEV0.5/FVC (-0.6 vs. -0.5), FEF50 (-0.4 vs. 0.9), FEF75 (-0.3 vs. 0.8), FEF85 (-0.1 vs. 0.6) and FEF25-75 (-0.5 vs. 1.1). No term child had abnormal lung function, compared to 39.2% of preterm infants (p = 0.001). Factors associated with abnormal pulmonary function were lower gestational age at birth, small for gestational age, need for mechanical ventilation and presence of recurrent wheezing. CONCLUSIONS: Preterms had a high prevalence of abnormal pulmonary function and lower pulmonary function in comparison to term infants. Prematurity, intrauterine growth restriction, respiratory support and recurrent wheezing were associated with abnormal pulmonary function.

Respostas cardiopulmonares durante o esforço em crianças e adolescentes nascidas prematuras / Cardiopulmonary outcomes during stress in children and adolescents born prematurely

OBJETIVO: Descrever as respostas cardiopulmonares durante o esforço em crianças e adolescentes nascidos prematuros. FONTES DE DADOS: Busca nas bases científicas em saúde SciELO, Lilacs e PubMed, utilizando-se os descritores: "pressão arterial", "capacidade física", "cardiovascular", "prematuro", "criança", adolescente", "função pulmonar", nos idiomas inglês e português. Foram selecionados artigos publicados nos últimos 20 anos. SÍNTESE DOS DADOS: Crianças e adolescentes com histórico de prematuridade apresentam sinais de obstrução das vias aéreas, menores valores de função pulmonar e de capacidade ao exercício, maior incidência de hipertensão arterial e/ou valores mais elevados da pressão arterial sistólica do que os nascidos a termo. Além disso, há indícios de que as alterações na resistência vascular sistêmica desde os primeiros dias de vida comprometam o desenvolvimento cardiovascular até a idade adulta, predispondo a maiores riscos cardiovasculares. CONCLUSÕES: O esforço físico nos indivíduos nascidos prematuros acarreta respostas cardiopulmonares diferentes dos nascidos a termo, atribuídas a particularidades no desenvolvimento desses sistemas inerentes ao prematuro.

OBJECTIVE: To describe cardiopulmonary outcomes during physical stress in prematurely born children and adolescents. DATA SOURCES: Studies were obtained from PubMed, SciELO and Lilacs in Portuguese and in English from the last 20 years. The following key-words were searched: "arterial pressure", "physical capacity", "cardiovascular", "premature", "children", "adolescent" and "pulmonary function". DATA SYNTHESIS: Prematurely born children and adolescents have airway obstruction, worse lung function and exercise capacity, more frequency of hypertension and/or higher systolic arterial pressure than those born at term. Furthermore, studies suggest that these infants have cardiovascular resistance alterations since their first days of life that could endanger the development of this system until adulthood, increasing cardiovascular risks. CONCLUSIONS: Physical stress in prematurely born individuals may lead to different cardiopulmonary outcomes compared to those born full-term. These alterations could be attributed to peculiarities of the cardiopulmonary system development.

Expansibilidade torácica na avaliação do volume corrente em recém-nascidos prematuros ventilados / Chest expansion for assessing tidal volume in premature newborn infants on ventilators

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar se a observação clínica da expansibilidade torácica prediz o volume corrente em neonatos sob ventilação mecânica e se a experiência do examinador interfere no resultado. MÉTODOS: Estudo observacional que incluiu médicos de baixa experiência (1° ano de residência em pediatria), moderada experiência (2° ano de residência em pediatria, 1° ano de especialização em neonatologia ou em terapia intensiva pediátrica) e experientes (2° ano de especialização em neonatologia, pós-graduandos ou assistentes com experiência mínima de 4 anos em neonatologia). Estes observaram a expansibilidade torácica de recém-nascidos em ventilação mecânica e responderam qual o volume corrente fornecido aos bebês. O volume corrente ofertado foi calculado, indexado ao peso atual do paciente e considerado adequado se entre 4-6 mL/kg, insuficiente se abaixo de 4 mL/kg e excessivo se acima de 6 mL/kg. Para análise dos resultados, foi utilizado o qui-quadrado. RESULTADOS: Foram realizadas 111 avaliações em 21 recém-nascidos, e as respostas fornecidas concordaram com o volume mensurado em 23,1, 41,3 e 65,7 por cento para os médicos de baixa, moderada experiência e experientes, respectivamente. Esses resultados evidenciam que os três grupos não são estatisticamente iguais (p = 0,013) e que o grupo de médicos experientes apresenta maior concordância que os de baixa e moderada experiência (p = 0,007). CONCLUSÃO: A análise clínica da expansibilidade torácica realizada por médicos de baixa e moderada experiência apresenta pouca concordância com o volume corrente ofertado aos recém-nascidos em ventilação mecânica. Embora a experiência dos médicos tenha resultado em maior concordância, a expansibilidade torácica deve ser interpretada com cautela.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether clinical observation of chest expansion predicts tidal volume in neonates on mechanical ventilation and whether observer experience interferes with results. METHODS: An observational study that enrolled less experienced physicians in the first year of pediatric residency, moderately experienced (second year pediatric residency, first year of neonatology or pediatric intensive care specialization) or who were already experienced (second year neonatology specialization, graduate students or primary physician supervisors with minimum experience of 4 years in neonatology). These professionals observed the chest expansion of newborn infants on mechanical ventilation and estimated the tidal volume being supplied to the babies. True tidal volume given was calculated, indexed by the patient's current weight, and considered adequate between 4 and 6 mL/kg, insufficient below 4 mL/kg and excessive over 6 mL/kg. Results were analyzed using chi-square test. RESULTS: One hundred and eleven assessments were carried out with 21 newborn infants and the estimates given were in agreement with measured volume in 23.1, 41.3 and 65.7 percent for less, moderately and experienced physicians, respectively. These results are evidence that the three groups are not statistically equal (p = 0.013) and that the group of fully-experienced physicians have a better level of agreement than those with little or moderate experience (p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical analysis of chest expansion by physicians with less or moderate experience exhibit a low level of agreement with the tidal volume given to newborn infants on mechanical ventilation. Although increased experience did result in higher levels of agreement, chest expansion must still be interpreted with caution.