Benefits of inserting the physical therapist on the profile of low-risk premature infants admitted to an intensive care unit

Abstract

This study aims to describe the benefits of inserting the physical therapist on the profile of lowrisk premature infants in neonatal intensive care units. This is a retrospective control study, with consultation to the medical records of premature infants admitted in 2006/2007 without physical therapy (PREP) and in 2009/2010 with physical therapy for up to 8h/day (POSTP). 61 preterm infants in the PREP period and 93 in the POSTP were included, born with ≥1000g, SNAP-PE II <40, with a duration of ventilatory support ≥24h. Maternal and neonatal profiles, duration of hospitalization, invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy were verified. Descriptive analysis, the Mann Whitney test, t-test, Chi-squared and Fisher’s test were performed, considering p≤0.05. There was a significant difference between gestational ages [PREP: 230.5 (±16.5)/ POSTP: 226 (±15); p = 0.05], frequency of sepsis [PREP: 6 (10%) / POSTP: 30 (32%); p < 0.01], respiratory distress syndrome [PREP: 11 (18%)/POSTP: 43 (46%); p < 0.01], need for resuscitation in the delivery room [PREP: 10 (16%) / POSTP: 32 (34%); p = 0.02], need for orotracheal intubation [PREP: 8 (13%)/POSTP: 26 (28%); invasive ventilation (PREP: 0.4±1.3 days/POSTP: 1.3±3.3 days, p = 0.04), continuous positive airway pressure (PREP: 1.5±1.0 days/POSTP: 2.7±3.8 days, p = 0.04). The presence of the physical therapist generated benefits, contributing to the maintenance of the length of hospitalization and oxygen therapy in face of a profile of more immature newborns and with more complications in the period after physical therapy was inserted.