Influence of posture on the ventilatory pattern and the thoraco-abdominal kinematics of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the influence of posture on ventilatory pattern, compartmental distribution of volume of chest wall and thoraco-abdominal kinematics of patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Twelve, male patients with severe COPD (Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV1) = 24.35 ± 4.52%, Forced Vital Capacity% (FVC%) = 60 ± 13.39% and relationship FEV1/FVC = 53.42 ± 14.47). The distribution of the volume of the ribcage [pulmonary rib cage (Rcp), abdominal ribcage (Rca) and abdomen (Ab)] during quiet breathing in a sitting position without back support (SWB), sitting with backrest (SB) and supine position (SUP) was determined using an opto-electronic plethysmograph. RESULTS: The following differences were observed: a greater tidal volume in the SWB position when compared to the SB position (p = 0.01); greater expiratory time in the SUP position in relation to the SWB (p = 0.03) and SB (p = 0.01); and increased abdominal contribution to the tidal volume in the SUP position in relation to the SWB (p < 0.01) and SB (p < 0.001). No difference was found in the thoraco-abdominal synchrony among the positions. CONCLUSION: Sitting position without back support enhances the activation of respiratory muscles by increasing the tidal volume and supine position seems to favor lung deflation by increasing the expiratory time. It seems appropriate to adopt these positions to optimize the ventilation/perfusion relationship and physiotherapeutic intervention in different clinical conditions.

Motor development evaluated by Test of Infant Motor Performance: comparison between preterm and full-term infants.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the motor development of preterm infants whose gestational age had been corrected to 38-40 weeks with full term newborns using the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP). METHODS: The cross-sectional study compared preterm infants (PT group), with a gestational age at birth of 28-33 weeks, at an equivalent age to full term newborns (FT group), who were assessed up to 48 hours after birth. The assessments were performed between December 2008 and April 2009 in a hospital nationally recognized for premature infant care in the city of Recife, PE, Brazil. The sample consisted of 92 infants, 46 in each group. The test was administered at age 38-40 weeks (or equivalent age in the PT group). RESULTS: In the 46 preterm infants studied, 26.1% were classified as atypical, while in the FT group 100% were classified as typical (p<0.001). Moreover, there was a significant difference in average raw TIMP score between the two groups, with the PT group being lower (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: According to TIMP performance, prematurity seems to be associated with impaired motor development.

Influence of change in lateral decubitus on pulmonary aerosol deposition.

BACKGROUND: The lateral decubitus position leads to the greatest changes in regional pulmonary ventilation and is used in respiratory physical therapy routines. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influence of the lateral decubitus position on the pulmonary deposition of inhaled radioaerosol particles in young people and report the effects of the decubitus position on routine therapy. METHODS: Eight healthy male volunteers, mean age 23.6±2.5 years, were included in a randomized study in two phases. In the first phase, aerosol was inhaled for nine minutes in a randomly-selected lateral decubitus position and after an interval of 5 to 7 days, the second phase was conducted. Pulmonary scintigraphy was carried out by inhalation of 25 mCi of 99mTc-DTPA. Following inhalation, images were acquired with scintillation cameras and regions of interest (ROI) were investigated in the longitudinal and cross-sectional divisions of the lungs. Statistical analysis included a paired Student's t-test with a significance level of p≤0.05. RESULTS: Inhalation in the right lateral decubitus position presented higher counts (p≤0.04) in posterior ROI of the right lung than in the posterior ROI of the left lung. In the left lateral decubitus position, the count was higher in the left lung (p≤0.02) than in the posterior ROI of the right lung. CONCLUSIONS: The deposition of aerosol particles during inhalation was position-dependent in the two phases of the study, which confirms the validity of technical and therapeutic resources based on the physiology of position-dependent ventilation and suggests that body positioning can be used to advantage in routine therapy.

Motor development evaluated by Test of Infant Motor Performance: comparison between preterm and full-term infants / Desenvolvimento motor avaliado pelo Test of Infant Motor Performance: comparação entre lactentes pré-termo e a termo

OBJECTIVES: To compare the motor development of preterm infants whose gestational age had been corrected to 38-40 weeks with full term newborns using the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP). METHODS: The cross-sectional study compared preterm infants (PT group), with a gestational age at birth of 28-33 weeks, at an equivalent age to full term newborns (FT group), who were assessed up to 48 hours after birth. The assessments were performed between December 2008 and April 2009 in a hospital nationally recognized for premature infant care in the city of Recife, PE, Brazil. The sample consisted of 92 infants, 46 in each group. The test was administered at age 38-40 weeks (or equivalent age in the PT group). RESULTS: In the 46 preterm infants studied, 26.1 percent were classified as atypical, while in the FT group 100 percent were classified as typical (p<0.001). Moreover, there was a significant difference in average raw TIMP score between the two groups, with the PT group being lower (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: According to TIMP performance, prematurity seems to be associated with impaired motor development.

OBJETIVOS: Comparar, por meio do Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP), o desenvolvimento motor de lactentes nascidos pré-termo que estavam com idade gestacional corrigida de 38 a 40 semanas com o de recém-nascidos a termo. MÉTODOS: Estudo de desenho transversal em que se comparou o desempenho motor de lactentes pré-termo (grupo RNPT), com idade gestacional no parto de 28 a 33 semanas, avaliados na idade equivalente ao termo, com o de recém-nascidos a termo (grupo RNT), avaliados em até 48 horas de vida, por meio do TIMP. A coleta dos dados foi realizada no período de dezembro de 2008 a abril de 2009, num hospital de referência para assistência a prematuros na cidade de Recife, PE, Brasil. A amostra foi constituída de 92 lactentes, 46 para cada grupo. O teste foi aplicado na idade de 38 a 40 semanas de idade gestacional (corrigida, no caso dos lactentes nascidos pré-termo). RESULTADOS:Dos 46 lactentes pré-termo avaliados, 26,1 por cento foram classificados como atípicos, enquanto 100 por cento dos recém-nascidos a termo foram classificados como típicos (p<0,001). Além disso, houve diferença significativa na média do escore bruto do teste nos dois grupos, sendo a média do grupo RNPT menor (p<0,001). CONCLUSÕES: A prematuridade parece estar associada a prejuízo no desenvolvimento motor, avaliado pelo TIMP.

Influência da variação dos decúbitos laterais na deposição pulmonar de aerossol / Influence of change in lateral decubitus on pulmonary aerosol deposition

CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: O decúbito lateral apresenta as maiores mudanças em relação à ventilação pulmonar regional e é utilizado na rotina da fisioterapia respiratória. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a influência do decúbito lateral na deposição pulmonar de radioaerossol durante a inalação em indivíduos jovens e relacionar os efeitos desse decúbito na rotina terapêutica. MÉTODOS: Em estudo randomizado em duas fases, foram incluídos oito homens voluntários saudáveis, com média de idade de 23,6±2,5 anos. Na primeira fase, inalou-se aerossol durante nove minutos no decúbito lateral sorteado e, após intervalo de cinco a sete dias, realizou-se a segunda fase. Para a cintilografia, inalou-se uma dose média de ácido dietilnotriaminopentacético marcado com tecnécio (DTPA - TC99m), com uma atividade radioativa em média de 25 milicuries (mCi). Ao final da inalação, as imagens foram adquiridas em câmaras de cintilação e analisadas por meio da divisão longitudinal e transversal dos pulmões em regiões de interesse (ROI). Para análise estatística, utilizou-se o teste t de Student pareado, considerando significativo p<0,05. RESULTADOS: A inalação em decúbito lateral direito apresentou, na ROI posterior do pulmão direito, um maior número de contagem (p<0,04) quando comparada à ROI posterior do pulmão esquerdo. No decúbito lateral esquerdo, observou-se um maior número de contagem no pulmão esquerdo (p<0,02) do que na ROI posterior do pulmão direito. CONCLUSÕES: A deposição das partículas de aerossol durante inalação apresentou um comportamento decúbito dependente nas duas fases do estudo, ratificando técnicas e recursos terapêuticos baseados na fisiologia da ventilação decúbito dependente e sugere a utilização do posicionamento corporal na rotina terapêutica.

BACKGROUND: The lateral decubitus position leads to the greatest changes in regional pulmonary ventilation and is used in respiratory physical therapy routines. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influence of the lateral decubitus position on the pulmonary deposition of inhaled radioaerosol particles in young people and report the effects of the decubitus position on routine therapy. METHODS: Eight healthy male volunteers, mean age 23.6±2.5 years, were included in a randomized study in two phases. In the first phase, aerosol was inhaled for nine minutes in a randomly-selected lateral decubitus position and after an interval of 5 to 7 days, the second phase was conducted. Pulmonary scintigraphy was carried out by inhalation of 25 mCi of 99mTc-DTPA. Following inhalation, images were acquired with scintillation cameras and regions of interest (ROI) were investigated in the longitudinal and cross-sectional divisions of the lungs. Statistical analysis included a paired Student's t-test with a significance level of p<0.05. RESULTS: Inhalation in the right lateral decubitus position presented higher counts (p<0.04) in posterior ROI of the right lung than in the posterior ROI of the left lung. In the left lateral decubitus position, the count was higher in the left lung (p<0.02) than in the posterior ROI of the right lung. CONCLUSIONS: The deposition of aerosol particles during inhalation was position-dependent in the two phases of the study, which confirms the validity of technical and therapeutic resources based on the physiology of position-dependent ventilation and suggests that body positioning can be used to advantage in routine therapy.