Journal of Clinical Research and Medicine Volume 2 Issue 4 Research Article August 11, 2019 ;
Symptomatic Effects of Chest Physiotherapy with Increased Exhalation Technique in Outpatient Care for Infant Bronchiolitis: A Multicentre, Randomised, Controlled Study. Bronkilib 2
Abstract
Objectives: The effectiveness of chest physiotherapy (CP) with increased exhalation technique (IET) to treat infants hospitalised for bronchiolitis has not to date been demonstrated. In outpatient settings, data are lacking to confirm CP’s effectiveness. The purpose of our study was to assess the impact of CP in outpatient care for infants with bronchiolitis.
Methods: We conducted a multicentre, randomized, controlled, single-blind study involving infants under 12 months treated on an outpatient basis. The primary endpoint, a decrease in the severity classification level of the infants’ respiratory difficulties, was compared between two patient groups, one with and one without CP.
A total of 82 infants were randomized; 41 were assigned to the CP group and 41 to the control group. Different blinded assessors determined the WangClinical Severity Score at inclusion (T0) and 30 minutes after inclusion (T1) for each group.
Results: In the group that received CP, 29 infants (70.7%) showed improvement and their severity level was modified, as compared to 4 (9.76%) in the control group (p<0.001). The mean decrease in the Wang Clinical Severity Score was: -2 (±1.32) in the group receiving physiotherapy compared to -0.22 (±0.99) in the control group (p<0.001).
Conclusions: Our study results suggest a symptomatic effect of CP with IET for short-term clinical improvement among infants with bronchiolitis in outpatient settings.